6 May

Offenders on community work sentences in Canterbury have helped their regional Coastguard launch a new rescue vessel by assisting with maintenance duties around the Coastguard building and premises.

In the lead-up to the launch of the Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue vessel, the offenders serving community work sentences landscaped, pruned, cleared bushes, painted, and replacing the building’s rotten weatherboards and window frames over an eight-month period, so that Coastguard volunteers could dedicate their time to keeping our waters safe.

“They did an incredible job restoring Coastguard Canterbury’s headquarters. The area around the building was so badly overgrown that we couldn’t even see out of our windows to the slipway, and a total of twenty-seven skiploads of rubbish were removed from the premises,” one of Coastguard Canterbury’s Directors, Paul Elliott, says.

“By taking care of our building maintenance requirements, the community workers allowed Coastguard Canterbury to dedicate their time to rescue efforts, training volunteers and talking to the public about water safety.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of the professionalism displayed by the workers and their supervisors over the last eight months.”

Elliott says Coastguard NZ’s CEO Bruce Reed, who attended the launch of the new vessel, was also overwhelmed by the offenders’ hard work and dedication.

Community work sentences require offenders to do unpaid work in the community for non-profit organisations as reparation for their offending.

Projects such as this are a great way for offenders to give something back to the community, and Elliott estimates that Coastguard Canterbury saved approximately $30,000 in labour costs with the community workers.

Not only is community work a practical way for offenders to learn work habits that assist with getting employment, but offenders also get a real sense of pride from their efforts because they have an opportunity to give back something to the community.

Annually, New Zealand communities benefits from almost three million hours of labour supplied through community work sentences. 

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:

Phone (04) 460 3365
Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

 

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