The Motu Kairangi Te Kohanga Reo is a happy place to visit. Squeals of delight fill the air as children run in and out of their miniature wharenui (meeting house).
Upturned faces gaze with wonder at paintings of the forest, sea, sky and sun. Little fingers run over the carved pou standing proudly in the centre of the meeting house.
When the Miramar-based Kohanga Reo asked the Rimutaka Prison Maori Focus Unit to build a whare for their children they had no idea how special it would be.
Six prisoners enrolled in the Maori Focus Unit's rehabilitative programme worked five hours a day, five days a week for four months on the project.
They put their heart and soul into it and they're justifiably proud of their work, says Unit Manager Damian Wanoa.
The men had hoped to attend the traditional unveiling ceremony. Most of them have children of their own so they could imagine the kids' excitement on seeing the whare.
They'd like to have seen the children enjoying the paintings and marvelling at the carvings the prisoners made for the doorway and front window. But it wasn't to be.
An effusive thank you letter from the Kohanga Reo telling them how much the children love the whare was much appreciated.
Head teacher Sfax Metera says it's the best whare she's ever seen at a Kohanga Reo.
"It really was a labour of love," says Sfax. "The paintings and carvings are absolutely wonderful and so is its name Te Poho-O-Tane. It means the place of Tane who was the God of the forests."
Sfax says the children have filled the whare with mattresses, toys and tea sets to create a playhouse atmosphere. Wooden furniture is expected to arrive soon.
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ISSN 1178-8453