20 October
Visitors to Kaitoke Regional Park this summer can look forward to the beauty of the well preserved grounds, thanks to the hard work put in by offenders serving community work sentences.
Since July up to 30 offenders have been working three days a week completing a range of jobs at the Kaitoke Regional Park located on State Highway 2 just north of Upper Hutt.
The offenders have been required to clear the weeds and overgrowth, waterblast the barbeque areas and repaint the bridges and public toilets. They have also participated in a native forest restoration project by planting native trees inside protective enclosures that they made out of wire and netting.
Kaitoke Regional Park Ranger Steve Edwards says the offenders have done a great job to revamp the park in preparation for the busy summer season.
“The community work crews supplied by Corrections are doing an amazing job to restore the park. They turn up on time with good attitudes and just get straight into the task at hand. Its obvious they take pride in their work and they seem to get a real sense of satisfaction from knowing their efforts will be appreciated by others.”
Community Probation & Psychological Services Upper Hutt Service Manager Miriama Sua-Hicks says projects in areas like this are a great way for offenders to make amends for their criminal offending.
“The natural environment can have a positive effect on the offenders and help them to reflect on themselves and think about the positive changes they need to make to improve their lives. It’s also a great way for them to learn some new skills and work ethics that could potentially help them find future employment.”
Community work is a community-based sentence that requires offenders to do unpaid work for non-profit organisations as reparation for their offending. Each year New Zealand communities benefit from almost three million hours of labour supplied through community work sentences.
For further information contact the Communications Services Desk: