Corrections staff took the Department’s recruitment message to Maori at the country’s largest kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, in February.
Thousands of Maori performers and spectators from all over the country gathered for the competition that inspires pride in both cultural and 
tribal identity. The overall winners were Whangara mai Tawhiti.
Staff from the Public Prison and Community Probation Services in Wellington, Palmerston North, and Wanganui shared an exhibition stall to raise awareness of Corrections and to tell as many people as possible about career opportunities in prisons and the community.
National Adviser Maori Service Development Lawrence Tawera says the response was encouraging.
“The festival gave us an ideal target for the Department’s nationwide campaign to attract more Maori staff – especially Probation Officers, Community Work Supervisors and Corrections Officers.
“Lots of people we spoke to were looking to move from other jobs. Many already knew about the Department but were surprised at the range of opportunities.”
Prisons staff brought both enthusiasm and experience to the venture. Regional Adviser Maori Service Development Te Waihanea Hakaraia organised a similar stall at the festival two years ago.
She says the joint effort this year showed how effective Maori can be at relationship building.
Palmerston North Probation Officer Richard Paama says it was great to be part of such a positive event for Maori. “Te Matatini was an awesome opportunity to reach out to Maori to explain the topics close to our hearts as Probation Officers.”
As well as sharing a recruitment message, Richard and his colleagues talked to people about how community work could help on their marae, and the need for more Maori service providers to work with Maori offenders and provide maraebased Tikanga Maori Programmes.
For more information about the recruitment campaign visit www.corrections.govt.nz or free phone 0800 1 PROBATION.