A New programme at Auckland Region Women’s Correctional Facility will harness the age-old power of the Pasefika oral storytelling tradition to help unite prisoners with their culture and enable them to become part of their communities when they leave prison.
Prisoners on the programme will meet with the story-telling programme facilitator once a week for eight weeks. They will learn how to tell stories and how to listen to others.
The programme, which is the first of its kind in a New Zealand prison, was designed by Regional Pacific Community Liaison Officer Asenati Lole-Taylor, who says that in traditional Pasefika cultures, people tell their stories as a way to identify their connection to their wider community.
Asenati likens the story-telling process to a fisherman untangling his nets.
"In Samoa, for example, the literal meaning of the word 'story' is 'tala', which implies an attempt by a person to unfold or disentangle an object in order for it to reach its full length.
"The fisherman steps backwards as he unfolds the net. Similarly, storytellers often step back from an event to give an account of the details."
This can help prisoners understand how their offending came about and enable them to access and deal with distressing feelings.
Asenati designed the programme in response to Pacific prisoners and staff who were asking for more Pacific Island programmes to complement the cultural days that are regularly held.
The programme is available to both remand and sentenced prisoners, and although it is aimed primarily at Pacific prisoners, Asenati says prisoners from other cultures are welcome if there is space on the course.
Northern Region Prison Services Manager Martin Strickland says the programme is a good example of staff working with members of the community to put Corrections' Pacific Strategy 2005-2008 into practice.
Celebrating the new programme on 26 February at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility.
Front row (left - right): Jeff Reid (Assistant Prison Manager ARWCF), Rev. Ionatana Pouli Lefale (Mangere/Otara PIC),
Pare Rauwhero (Kaitiaki), Rev Roy Smith (Lagimalofie Minister), Sa’o Tamaitai (Lagimalofie), Rev. Ma’afala Koko
(Auckland Region Presbyterian Moderator), Auomala Pouli-Lefale (Programme Facilitator) Asenati Lole-Taylor
(Programme catalyst and PCLO Northern Region PPS).
Second Row: Sogaimiti (Lagimalofie), Awhitia Mihaele (SAMSD ARWCF), Leata Lemusu-Leota (ARWCF staff),
Pam Osment (ARP staff), Melani (Programmes Manager Spring Hill Corrections Facility),
Lagimalofie member Fa’ailoa Timu (Otahuhu CPS), Linda Groenewegen (ARWCF Programmes Manager),
Daisy Tanuvasa (ARWCF staff), Pa’u Tafa Mulitalo (Programme Facilitator).
Back row: Willie Ash (SHCF staff), Sosefo Bourke (PCLO Waikato/Central region), Lapi Mariner
(Pacific community icon and staff member at Mt Eden Prison), Dennis Taylor (Unit Manager Mt Eden Prison).
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ISSN 1178-8453