B.08.01.R5 Cultural / Religious / Spiritual Support Groups

Support Groups

Each prison region must have in place and accessible to all staff, a register containing the names and contact details of appropriate cultural, religious and spiritual support volunteers who can be called upon, amongst other things, to provide assistance in case of prisoner death to ensure that the necessary processes are carried out in keeping with the known cultural, religious and spiritual needs of the deceased, his / her family / whānau and others (including staff).

This register is to be developed and maintained by prison management in consultation with the Regional Advisor Māori Service Development team, Prison Chaplains, prison Social Workers and other appropriate staff. The register may include community groups, staff or any other people and should cover as wide a spectrum of New Zealand society in terms of ethnicity and religious or spiritual background as possible, reflecting the needs of the prisoner population specific to each region.

Māori prisoners

In terms of Māori prisoners specifically, the register must reflect multi-tribal / Iwi representation to advise and facilitate tikanga up to and including the tangi with the Regional Advisor Māori Service Development team members and prison chaplains providing overall coordination. Kaiwhakamana approved special visitors, already accustomed to prison environments and culture, and should be included in the register.

Pacific prisoners

In terms of Pacific prisoners specifically, the register must reflect a broad spectrum of Pacific representation to advise and facilitate cultural issues up to and including the funeral with the prison chaplains providing overall coordination. Fautua Pasefika approved special visitors, already accustomed to prison environments and culture, and should be included in the register.

Other groups

Other groups, depending on representation within the prison population, may include (but is not limited to):

• All Christian religious groups.
• All other religious groups (Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu etc).
• All other ethnic / cultural groups (Chinese, German, Turkish etc).

Role of the Support Group

In terms of a prisoner’s death or the death of a prisoner’s family member, people on the register may assist prison staff in:

• Acknowledging the family / whānau’s customs and needs.
• Enabling the family / whānau’s participation in the process in accordance with traditional customary practices.
• Projecting cultural sensitivity and understanding.
• Providing information as required bringing some finality to the grieving process for family / whānau and others.