Corrections' commitment to succeed for Maori offenders has never been stronger.
The Department's recently released Maori Strategic Plan makes it very clear that: "To succeed overall, we must succeed for Maori".
Chief Executive Barry Matthews says the Department is also very clear that every staff member has a role in achieving this.
Social and economic outcomes for Maori whanau and Maori communities have improved significantly over the past decade – especially within the education and employment sectors.
"We know that on 1 June 2008, 95.4 per cent of Maori over the age of 17 years were not serving a sentence managed by Corrections," says Maori & Pacific Policy Manager Uarnie More.
"It's important that we highlight this statistic to dispel negative stereotypes, because it's not until we take a closer look at our own environment within the wider criminal justice system and Corrections, that the picture begins to change."
In comparison to non-Maori, Maori are more likely to be apprehended, less likely to receive warnings/cautions or diversions and more likely to have a community based sentence imposed rather than a monetary sentence.
At present around 50 per cent of the prison population is Maori and around 45 per cent of people serving community based sentences and orders (15,000) are Maori.
Once in the system, Maori offenders tend to cycle around (relapse - reconvicted - re-sentenced) more quickly and frequently than non-Maori.
Maori offenders are also more likely to have low literacy, numeracy, trade and employment skills and more health problems in comparison to other offenders.
Over the years the Department has designed, developed and implemented a wide range of programmes and services from a Maori world view.
It has done this with support from Maori partners including iwi, hapu, Maori service providers and community groups.
These programmes and services reconnect Maori offenders to Maori culture to help motivate them to make positive changes that reduce their re-offending.
Evidence shows that this Maori-specific approach strengthens the cultural identity of Maori offenders, improves their attitudes and behaviours and motivates them to participate in rehabilitation.
Although significant gains have been achieved, there is still a long way to go and the Maori Strategic Plan will help Corrections get there.
The plan brings together a range of views from Corrections managers, staff and Maori partners.
"Professor Mason Durie has made an important contribution in this area," says Uarnie. "He provided us with an approach to help us succeed for Maori offenders through their participation in both Te Ao Maori (the Maori world) and Te Ao Hurihuri (the global world). This approach ties in very nicely with what we've achieved to date, and where we intend to go in the near future.
"Alongside the Strategic Business Plan and the Maori Strategic Plan, the Department will focus on detailed annual business planning. This will ensure that the work we do, and the way we work, is successful for Maori and aligns and contributes to the Department's vision, outcomes and strategic priorities."
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ISSN 1178-8453