Pukawa Marae: Completed with the help of prisoners
When Pukawa Marae’s trustees desperately needed experienced people willing to work 10 hour days, seven days a week to finish the new marae -they called Tongriro/Rangipo Prison.
The Ngati Manunui marae trustees were eager to open the half-finished marae near Lake Taupo in time for the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kingitanga (Maori monarchy) Movement, and prisoners and staff from the Maori Focus Unit rose to the challenge.
Marae Trustee Julia Wade says it was a change in attitude that meant the prisoners could take on the work, doing everything from installing carvings to welding and landscaping.
Drug-tested every day on their return to Tongariro, not one prisoner returned a positive result.
“They did a fantastic job and we wouldn’t hesitate to call on them again. They brought big smiles to the faces of the six kaumatua who were struggling with the project,“ says Julia.
Regional Adviser Maori Service Development Danny Morehu says the Maori Focus Unit had experience working on marae.
“The guys were ideally placed for the job and eager to help,” he says.
Recognising that the Kingitanga Movement involves a number of tribes, the prison did its best to represent them all. It also held a series of wananga to educate the prisoners about the Kingitanga Movement.
“We shared our history with the prisoners - a history not printed in books. It is handed down orally and we took the time to share it with the men. They were very interested to understand the meaning behind the carvings they were handling,” says Julia.
During the opening celebrations, which attracted hundreds of people, the prisoners also cooked thousands of meals and waited on tables. Maori Focus Unit staff made the Tongariro Prison contribution more significant by working alongside the prisoners in their own time.
To thank the prisoners and staff members for their hard work, the trustees arranged a feast and gave the prisoners letters of thanks from themselves and the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board.
“The letters mean a lot to the men, who would be the first to say they too gained a great deal from the project,” says Danny.
Acting Waikato/Central Regional Manager Gavin Dalziel described the project as a resounding success, paying tribute to the people of Pukawa and Tuwharetoa for their open-minded approach.
“The knowledge of tikanga and appropriate behaviour the men learnt will certainly help them address their offending,” Gavin says.
“I congratulate the managers and staff who made this involvement happen.”
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ISSN 1178-8453