6 October
Two four-metre high pou carved by a group of prisoners at Auckland Prison were blessed in a ceremony at North Shore District Court in Albany last week attended by Minister for Courts, Hon Georgina Te Heu Heu, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams and Deputy Mayor Julia Parfitt.
The early morning ceremony was also attended by the families of the prison carvers, officials from the Ministry of Justice, Department of Corrections, Police and the North Shore City Council, as well kaumatua from local iwi Ngati Whatua.
The Deputy Mayor has been involved with prisoner art since first setting up initial meetings that resulted in the Mairangi Arts Centre exhibition of prisoner art in June of this year. The exhibition raised over $7000 for Victim Support.
Auckland Prison Programmes Manager Mark Lynds worked with a senior prison carver to develop the concept and designs for the pou, who then led a team of prisoners in the carving.
“The pou are installed inside the main entrance to the courthouse and they depict the choice to be made between good and evil. They are stunning pieces of art, and possibly the best work I’ve seen these men produce. The whakapapa and messages behind the carvings are very powerful and they are designed to make you stop and think.”
“Art as an activity for prisoners challenges them to work in groups and communicate with each other and solve problems using logic. It builds confidence and helps the men to gain insight into their own lives and how they relate to others,” says Mr Lynds.
North Shore Deputy Mayor Julia Parfitt said it was wonderful to finally see the two pou inside building and that the Council chose to support prisoners’ art because of the opportunities it created for the prison, prisoners and the North Shore community.
“It’s great that out of something negative, something positive can be achieved and that the prisoners have had this opportunity.
“The pou are a fabulous gift that will benefit the community for years to come. I know that the prisoners would have been proud of the way that their work was honoured, with Judges and respected people in the community attending the ceremony alongside members of the carvers' families," said Julia.
Please see attached photographs of the carved pou installed at the courthouse, and Mark Lynds speaking at the ceremony.
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