25 November
Well known New Zealand author Nicola McCloy brought her insights into the literary world to west division prisoners at Auckland Prison last week.
Ms McCloy has written seven books which take a lighthearted look at New Zealand history, including an explanation of where place names have come from titled Whykickamoocow and Made in New Zealand, a history of NZ made products and how they came to be.
She has also spent the better part of a decade working in publishing houses Random House and Allen and Unwin, and shared with prisoners her experiences as an author and in the wider world of publishing.
McCloy’s visit to the prison came about through the relationship between Auckland Prison and Whitcoulls' Takapuna Branch.
Takapuna Branch staff have an established relationship with the prison where they donate advance copy, reading copy and pre-proofed books to the Prison Library. Ms McCloy was at a book event and quick-thinking staff member Sue Neal asked her if she would be interested in speaking to the prisoners at Paremoremo.
Auckland Prison Programmes manager Jacqui Connor says that a visit like this is a very rare occurrence for prisoners, but one that was well received.
“We have avid readers and we have men that can’t read. There are some prisoners doing Massey University papers and some that need reading and writing classes, and have English as a second language,” says Ms Connor.
“Opportunities like this give men the chance to learn about areas that they may never have had any contact with. We have many prisoners that enter the prison system with little to no literacy skills, and through working with literacy tutors discover reading and really take to it.
"I think that Nicola’s visit appealed to many of the prisoners, especially those that took up the chance to participate in a question and answer session with Nicola after her talk,” says Ms Connor.
There is a strong relationship between a lack of education and criminal behaviour. At the time of the last prison census in 2003, 51.7 per cent of prisoners had no formal qualifications.
Educational achievement and participation can equip prisoners for self-sufficiency and reduce the barriers to living an offence free life. Prisoners can enrol in any subject or education programme they consider themselves capable of achieving.
ENDS
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