16 October 2003
Waikeria Prison has been chosen to host a visit of the 2003 Commonwealth Study Conference, taking place next week.
“Staff and management are delighted that Waikeria has been selected by the Commonwealth Study Conference as an example of excellence in prison management,” says Regional Manager Harry Hawthorn.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the work of the Public Prisons Service, modern offender management and how it’s progressing in the 21st century.”
Commonwealth Study Conferences were founded by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, and are held every six years*. Two hundred leaders in companies and organisations participate from the more than 40 Commonwealth nations.
The 2003 Commonwealth Study Conference opens today (16 October) in Melbourne. After the official opening and initial plenary sessions, 14 study groups will embark on a range of study tours around Australia and New Zealand lasting 6-7 days.
The study tours form the core of the conference, visiting a range of workplaces to gain insight into local industrial, commercial and social situations and their successes, failures and opportunities. Members are expected to question the rationale of established practices and have the opportunity to discuss the relationship of people to their work and their social environment.
Three study tour groups will come to New Zealand, one of which will visit Waikeria Prison on Thursday 23 October. The theme set for the visit is “Prisoner Management in the 21st Century”.
The 14 group members visiting the prison come from a wide range of Commonwealth countries and hold a variety of senior positions in corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations.
Waikeria is New Zealand’s largest prison, accommodating up to 906 male and female minimum and medium security inmates. It is located on a 1,200 hectare farm, about 16 kilometres south of the Waikato township of Te Awamutu. The prison features a youth unit, women’s unit, Maori focus unit, and a range of inmate employment initiatives including dairy farming, light engineering and catering activities.
Other organisations this study tour will visit include Zespri International, Mokai Geothermal Institute, Forest Research Institute and Waikato University.
* currently in transition to being held every four years. View the CSC website (external link)