A recent evaluation of Corrections’ community-based Tikanga Māori programmes shows offenders with heightened awareness of their Māori heritage are more likely to choose offence-free lifestyles.1
Community Probation and Psychological Services National Adviser Māori Service Development Lawrence Tawera says the evaluation has shown that by encouraging offenders to increase their cultural knowledge and to reconnect with whānau the Tikanga Māori programmes are changing lives.
“For Māori, learning pepeha (identify) and whakapapa (family lineage) is about reaffirming a connection with their tribe, their ancestors, and their history,” says Lawrence.
One Auckland offender who doubted whether the programme would result in him questioning his lifestyle says he now feels a light was “switched on”.
Lawrence says probation officers (POs) involved in Tikanga Māori programmes are playing a critical role in their success.
“By making sure that offenders make it to sessions (some POs provide transport), checking on their progress, and attending graduation ceremonies the POs are sending strong signals to offenders that they value the courses highly.”
Community-based providers deliver tikanga (process in which something is done) programmes to offenders in prison and in the community. The facilitators are highly competent, knowledgeable and authoritative speakers on their local tikanga and kawa (protocol). While courses vary in terms of length, structure and content, they all focus on promoting participants’ understanding of Māori cultural values and involving whānau.
Offenders are encouraged to address their offending and to become positive role models for their dependants. Many course graduates speak about not wanting younger whānau members to experience a similar fate to theirs. “I want my kids to know who they are – not end up like me,” one said.
The partner of another participant spoke about how positive his behaviour had become – especially with his youngest son.
“He now supports this son’s sports and school activities when he can and he regularly emails our eldest son who lives in London.”
Lawrence says the tutors’ passion and enthusiasm for the programme has also been key. Participants said the tutors had created a great environment for learning and helping them expand their whakapapa knowledge with hikoi, marae visits, and research trips to the local library.
One Christchurch offender was very impressed with the tutors. “The environment, awhi (support) and aroha (love) is great. This course is massive and I have learnt so much,” he said.
An Auckland offender expressed his thanks to the tutors who he said had increased his knowledge and “awakened” him.
The ability to share thoughts and personal stories with other participants was also valued. A Palmerston North offender said “the bro’s on the course” had given him his inspiration.
Lawrence says two commonly reported outcomes of the course were offenders’ enduring motivation to cease offending and the fact some had signed on for further courses and placements to enable them to learn more about tikanga.
1: Underpinning the Department’s five-year Strategic Business Plan is the recognition that “to succeed overall we must succeed for Māori offenders”.
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ISSN 1178-8453