Qualified psychologist Armon Tamatea has been instrumental in programmes and initiatives that have helped reduce Maori reoffending.
Curiosity and breaking new ground are the driving forces for Armon Tamatea, a clinical psychologist with Community Probation & Psychological Services.
Armon is based in Hamilton and is of Te Aitanga a Maahaki and Rongowhakaata descent.
The 31-year-old is one of the few Maori psychologists within the Department of Corrections. In his five years with the organisation, he has been instrumental in helping to reduce reoffending amongst Maori through various programmes and initiatives.
Corrections employs over 100 psychologists across New Zealand who use their skills and knowledge to treat offenders in the community and in prison. They are experts in their field, a discipline which systematically investigates aspects of the human mind including behaviour, cognition, and emotion.
Since high school, Armon has had a real curiosity for both psychology and philosophy. In 1994 he started his undergraduate studies at Waikato University in these areas and continues his quest for knowledge to this day.
He is currently involved in PhD study with an emphasis on criminal psychology focussing on information-processing differences of violent offenders with psychopathic traits.
Corrections offers a supportive working and learning environment with the freedom to investigate and try new treatment techniques with offenders.
“I’m able to explore treatment options that have never been tried before in prison settings,” says Armon. “I’ve been given a lot of scope to see what works and what doesn’t – not many organisations can offer this type of independence.”
As well as working with prisoners, Armon works on an individual basis with offenders serving sentences and orders in the community, assessing and treating them and assisting them to manage their harmful behaviour.
His other responsibilities include preparing reports to the New Zealand Parole Board; developing a cultural competency framework for psychologists within Corrections; and putting together training packages for prison staff dealing with psychopathic offenders. He is also involved in various research projects – many of which have a Maori aspect.
Corrections, according to Armon, has a history of proactive involvement with cultural issues, and it’s adopted some appropriate procedures that are sensitive to issues that may arise with particular reference to Maori.
“However, like any other organisation that works with a largely Maori population, it is important that Corrections continues to strive to think progressively and act responsively when dealing with things Maori.
“There are ‘go-to’ people available to advise on cultural issues, so it’s not such a big challenge being one of the only Maori psychologists within the Department.”
Armon spends a lot of his time on Maori initiatives. In a rehabilitation project, which he has just completed, the majority of participants were Maori.
Over a 10-month period the participants were taken through an intensive course of treatment with Armon and three other psychologists. Each week participants were involved in three group meetings and an individual therapy session, as well as a tikanga class on which, Armon says, each offender thrived.
Mixing western procedures with tikanga Maori is an interesting aspect to some of the work Armon has been involved in and he says he looks forward to continuing research into this area.
With a wide range of tasks and projects already undertaken, Armon plans to continue his learning through PhD study via Massey University, explore further treatment and research pathways, and delve into policy work at a national level.