6 March
Prisoners working in Christchurch’s three garden and nursery units are gaining qualifications in horticulture to help them obtain employment on their release.
This week the Department of Corrections and the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (NZHITO) presented five prisoners at Christchurch Women’s Prison with National Certificates in Horticulture (Level 2).
Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Horticulture Manager Stu Whyte says he is proud of the prisoners’ achievements.
“They have all made a real effort to gain these qualifications and are very passionate about the work they are doing. It is very satisfying to see prisoners connect with something that provides them with the opportunity to improve their lives once they leave prison.”
Currently over 60 prisoners at Christchurch, Christchurch Women’s and Rolleston prisons are undertaking work and training towards a National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 2).
Stu says helping prisoners gain qualifications benefits both the prisoners involved and the wider community.
The last prison census showed that 55 per cent of prisoners did not have a job before entering prison and that 52 per cent had no formal qualifications. Research shows that prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend, which helps keep our communities safer.
Approved prisoners raise the vegetables from seeds and learn the skills involved with operating a nursery or garden, including plant propagation, plant maintenance, weed and pest control and how to monitor the growth of different plant species.
“We have fully-certified assessors run our horticulture program, which is NZQA accredited, so the prisoners leave with a recognised qualification in an industry in which there is a real need for trained workers.
“We’ve had some great success stories and two previous graduates are now successfully working in the horticulture industry after their release.”
While obtaining work on release is important, Stu says having prisoners undertake training delivers other tangible benefits.
“It can really help improve a prisoner’s attitude and outlook when they learn skills in an area that interests them.”
The prisoners grow their own plants and they get a real sense of pride and achievement in raising them from seeds and ensuring they grow and flourish.
The skills they are learning here can be really important in helping them turn their lives around when they leave prison.”
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