13 January 2012

Prisoners at Northland Regional Corrections Facility have been tasked with refurbishing well loved but worn out children’s toys from Kerikeri’s Toy Library.

Over 50 different products, including wooden ride-on toys, go-karts and doll’s furniture, have been given to prisoners working in the carpentry and paint workshops at the prison to overhaul and give back to the library.

Corrections Inmate Employment Area Operations Manager Don Robertson says the prisoners are grateful for the challenge as it uses their capabilities and complements the qualifications they have trained for inside the wire.

“We train more than 100 men each year to various levels of national qualification in Building and Allied Trades, Automotive Engineering, Forestry, Horticulture and Painting through courses provided in partnership with Northtec. We find that once prisoners become involved in working and learning, they get a sense of ownership and pride. In turn, they’re less likely to re-offend."

A group of prisoners who have graduated from carpentry training have already undertaken sanding work on the toys, and now another prisoner who has graduated from a pre-trade training course will begin painting them.

Louise from Kerikeri Toy Library says giving the toys to prisoners to work on is good both for the library as a charity and for the community’s kids.

“Some of the toys are from as far back as the 1960s so they seriously need a going over. Many are beautiful and even hand-made, but they’re broken and have been left out in the rain and that sort of thing. We’re really looking forward to getting them back.”

The library is leaving most of the decision-making about how to refurbish the toys up to the prisoners.

“Local businesses have donated paint for the prisoners to use and we are hoping they’ll use a bit of creative license and see the work as an opportunity to grow themselves,” Louise says.

It is expected the restored toys will be returned to the library next month.

Notes to reporters

The Department of Corrections provides employment and employment-related training in prisons to increase the chance that prisoners will obtain sustainable post-release employment. Raising the skill levels of prisoners not only helps their chances of finding sustainable employment on release, but more importantly makes prisoners less likely to re-offend, which in turn helps to keep our communities safe.

Northland Regional Corrections Facility trains around 110 prisoners each year in a range of courses.

Toy Libraries operate along similar lines to public libraries but they mainly cater for pre-school children and lend out toys to members, rather than books. Please see the toy library website for more information.

The paint donated for the refurbishment was provided by Placemakers, Mitre 10, Waipapa Resene, and Great Northern Traders.

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:

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

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