As the year comes to a close, I would like to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas. It has been a challenging year for Corrections, its management and staff.
Prison numbers grew throughout the year and Corrections has taken over new facilities such as Spring Hill to meet demand. On my recent visit to Spring Hill I was impressed with the facilities, security and the positive attitudes of both staff and managers.
Some really positive things are happening within Corrections, and the community is well served by staff within prisons and administering community services who work professionally and are committed to doing a good job.
It is a pity that too often the only picture the wider community gets of the system is when there is a problem. And often that problem is sensationalised and not reported with either accuracy or balance.
I had the privilege last week of seeing the completion of a project in which Corrections has been involved, the upgraded Colonial walkway in Porirua.
The public walking track, near the heart of the city, was worked on by 18 prisoners from Rimutaka Prison. Prisoners from the prison joinery workshop built 96 sets of boxed steps, six footbridges and boardwalk structures. These were installed over five months by two parties of prisoners in groups of six, and the work parties also pulled out old wooden structures, dug drains and cleared tracks.
Minister of Corrections Hon Phil Goff (right foreground) helps to open the upgraded
Colonial Knob walkway. With him are (left to right) Ngati Toa Kaumatua Kawerau Arthur,
Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash and Porirua Deputy Mayor Litea Ahoi.
It was a great effort, and I would like to acknowledge the work of the Department’s supervisors, prisoners and local businesses and Porirua City Council for supporting the Department during the project.
Initiatives such as this allow inmates to put something back into the community. It also helps rehabilitation by giving them skills and a work ethic.
The importance of providing work and training so that offenders develop work habits and skills is obvious from the fact that up to half of all prisoners were not in work at the time of their offending.
That is why the Department has in the past 18 months redoubled its efforts in this area. As of October, 3755 prisoners, 46 per cent of the prison population and 57 per cent of sentenced prisoners, were involved in work or training, compared with 40 per cent when the Prisoner Employment Strategy launched in July 2006. The strategy has a target of 60 per cent of all prisoners in work or training by 2010, or an extra 1900 prisoners. The Corrections Department is making good progress towards this.
Again, best wishes for the festive season and hopefully the chance to enjoy some time with family and friends.
Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Corrections
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ISSN 1178-8453