(From left) Programme participant, Tai Te Karu, probation officer Ruth Patena, and Te Uru Pounamu facilitators Te Mare and Reuben Hahipene.
Maori offenders have been given the chance to trial a follow-up programme for participants who successfully complete a tikanga Maori programme.
Called a maintenance programme, it follows-up on offenders’ progress, and aims to mentor offenders individually on what they have learnt, offering support while they make positive changes in their lives.
Manu Tioriori Resources, based in Tuwharetoa, are the first to formally deliver the maintenance programme, which follows up on a tikanga Maori programme. The trial, Te Uru Pounamu (seek the gem within), was delivered in Taupo from 2 October - 6 November.
A number of provider hui held across the country have identified that both offenders and providers were keen to run follow-up tikanga Maori programmes to further equip participants with the skills to prevent them re-offending.
“All the offenders that have attended our programmes have asked the question: what happens to them now?’” says Te are Hahipene, who is co-Manager of Manu Tioriori Resources.
Te Mare and husband Reuben worked with CPPS to create a follow-up maintenance programme to address this need.
Out of seven offenders who took part in the tikanga Maori programme held by Manu Tioriori in August/September, two were selected to be part of the trial.
Over a five-week period the two offenders spent ten hours learning how to establish a good foundation and respect boundaries; how to create and maintain working relationships; and goal-setting through the use and understanding of pepeha, tikanga and kawa that dictate behaviour.
Probation officer Huhana Smith says she has witnessed a significant change in these two offenders.
“Their demeanours have changed positively, relishing in their achievements and learnings,” says Huhana. “Each participant took more pride in their appearance and stature, with their heads held high on graduation day.”
Waiariki Area Manager Pauline Moran agrees the trial has had a great result.
“We can clearly say that the two chosen to participate have enhanced their motivation to implement their sentence conditions and the life goals they developed as part of the two programmes.”
Te Mare says she feels privileged to have been given the opportunity by CPPS to provide and facilitate a programme of this nature.
“We feel it is essential and necessary to have follow-up sessions like this one after a tikanga Maori programme.
“We have a saying which is: ‘manaaki doesn’t end at the marae gate.’ We believe this initiative has the capacity and capability to address participants’ issues,” she says.
Offenders are given support and confidence in their hikoi to achieve their objectives.
The content and format is not new, but the challenge is to make it relevant to the participants, so they will continue to use what they’ve learnt, well after the programme finishes.
CPPS is very encouraged by the potential of Te Uru Pounamu and Te Mare and Reuben are enthusiastic about running it again.
Probation officer, Huhana Smith and programme participant Hemi Howard.