There are high expectations that Saili Matagi, New Zealand's first violence prevention programme for male Pacific prisoners, will provide participants with the necessary skills to end their violent lifestyles.
Ten prisoners of the Vaka Fa'aola (Pacific Focus Unit) at Spring Hill Corrections Facility are edging towards graduation and there are strong signs that the experience has been lifechanging for them.
"We're getting positive feedback from the offenders who are finding the course interactive and engaging," says Programmes Manager Velani Bernard.
"They're receiving a lot of support from fellow prisoners in the unit who want the guys to do well. Some are keen to do the programme themselves after seeing the impact it is having on the participants' behaviour."
The twenty-eight week Saili Matagi programme was piloted at Auckland Prison in 2003/04 and launched in the country's only dedicated Pacific Focus Unit in February of this year.
'Saili Matagi' is a Samoan proverb meaning 'in search of winds'. It describes the need to catch good winds for smooth sailing.
The proverb's underlying concept is used to describe a person's search for a better result or outcome to a problem.
The programme is a first for leading the way in developing psychological practices that are grounded in the culture of Pacific nations. Its focus is that 'violence is never ok'.
Three mornings a week the prisoner is 'challenged' about the beliefs he has that support violence. These sessions take place in the prison's onsite traditional fale (meeting house).
The aim is for prisoners to identify and change these beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that have resulted in the violent offending.
Ultimately this helps reduce re-offending and intergenerational violence in Pacific families.
The men complete modules of the course - called foe (paddles) to symbolise the part they play in helping the men make their journey.
Victim empathy, mood management training and relapse prevention make up some of the modules.
Prisoners continue to fulfill their employment obligations around the prison site while completing the programme and some attend additional education programmes such as the Pasefika Legends storytelling course.
Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
ISSN 1178-8453