Maori focus leads to positive change

Succeeding for Maori.

A recent evaluation has found that Corrections’ Maori Focus Units and Maori Therapeutic Programmes help offenders to learn about tikanga Maori and provide a positive environment where participants can learn to improve their lives.

The evaluation found that Maori Therapeutic Programme participants became more highly motivated to change their lifestyles for the better. They also became more aware of the kind of help they needed to avoid re-offending and more motivated to use such services.

The evaluation used a range of methods, including interviews, psychometric measures, and reconviction analysis.

Acting Manager Maori and Pacific Policy Russell Caldwell says the evaluation shows the units are succeeding in creating therapeutic environments where prisoners can learn new thinking and behaviour.

“However, there’s room for improvement so that even greater gains can be achieved. We will explore ways to ensure that all prisoners who enter Maori Focus Units are given the best opportunity to change their ways.

“We are particularly focused on how we can best use Maori Focus Units to encourage gang members to leave gangs and change those attitudes and beliefs that trap them in criminal lifestyles,” he says.

Waikeria Prison Maori Focus Unit Manager Errol Baker highlights support during the release process as another important area if Maori Focus Units are to achieve greater success in the future.

“Some of the prisoners from dysfunctional families don’t want to go back to their whanau as that’s where they got in trouble in the first place, so it’s important to have good community links to find suitable accommodation and provide them with the other things they need on release,” he says.

Corrections has five Maori Focus Units. The first was established at Hawkes Bay Prison in 1997, with the remaining four – at Tongariro/Rangipo, Waikeria, Rimutaka and Wanganui Prisons – opening over the following few years. Most are stand-alone 60-bed units.

What are Maori Focus Units and Maori Therapeutic Programmes?

Maori Focus Units are therapeutic communities in which tikanga Maori (cultural principles and practices) forms the basis for all interactions.

The Maori Therapeutic Programme is one part of the overall Maori Focus Unit ‘experience’ and not all prisoners in a Maori Focus Unit will do the programme. It is a group-based rehabilitation programme, led by experienced facilitators.