Rimutaka Prison Health, At Risk and Receiving Office Manager Taunu Taepa is well aware that a hard core group of prisoners will never be reformed. But the ones who are, inspire him, and it’s Corrections’ efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners that drives him.
Taunu says he’s never sure what it is in the rehabilitation and reintegration process that clicks with prisoners and causes the turnaround.
“It might be a corrections officer, a prison chaplain, a volunteer, another prisoner or a family member who turns that switch on,” Taunu says.
“It might be the opportunity to train, work and find direction. Or it might be their having the opportunity to become drug and alcohol free. Who or what makes the difference doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that we are offering prisoners the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and it’s working for those prepared to change.”
Not surprisingly, it was a wish to influence prisoners positively that initially encouraged Taunu to join Corrections at the age of 36.
“I felt at ease with prisoners having visited Wi Tako (renamed Rimutaka) Prison on a number of occasions as a child with my father who was an Anglican clergyman there,” Taunu says.
“My professional work at the prison began when I was asked to teach Taiaha (the long spear) to mainstream and segregated prisoners.
“I’d meet with each group for an hour a week but despite most of the staff knowing me, security requirements meant it could take up to an hour just to reach the class.
“Frustrated by this twice-weekly process, I sought permission to bring the two groups together for a two-hour session that would enable us to achieve more,” says Taunu.
“I told the men to put aside their offending and come together as one people moving in one positive direction. They agreed to do this and when I saw I was making a difference,I decided to join Corrections.”
Today, Taunu often finds himself dealing with legislation and paperwork which while interesting and satisfying, is a far cry from the work he’d envisaged himself doing when he first joined Corrections.
“I’m also required to understand warrants which determine how and why someone is imprisoned and the length of their sentence.
“What I’ve found particularly interesting is watching the huge changes that have taken place in prisons over the years. When I joined Corrections, prisons were divided into wings (corridors with cells). Now we have units (a complex with single-man huts built around a green) creating small communities within the prison and that’s been positive.”
Another positive change that Taunu has seen is the CIE (Corrections Inmate Employment) and Release to Work programmes that offer prisoners training and meaningful work.
Rimutaka Prison Unit Manager Taunu Taepa continually inspired by Corrections’ rehabilitation opportunities.
While not suggesting that it’s CIE and Release to Work alone that encourages prisoners to turn their lives around, Taunu firmly believes both programmes are having a significant and positive impact on many prisoners.
“I know there are prisoners who are turning their lives around and they continually inspire me. It’s great seeing them out and about in the community, doing well and grateful for the opportunities given to them while they served their sentence.”
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