First weeks in custody

We are responsible for keeping all people in prison safe. If you have concerns about the safety of your whānau/family member or you want to tell them something significant has happened, like a bereavement or tangi, then contact the case manager or the Prison Director.

Someone who goes to prison (on remand or if they have been sentenced) will get a case manager within four weeks. A case manager will support them by:

Getting to know the person, their needs and goals.
Helping them to access services that will take care of their tinana (physical health) and hinengaro (mental wellbeing). Each prison has on-site nurses who can help a person to see a doctor or get their medication.
Making a plan for the time they are in prison, which includes:
- arranging activities (like work, education, and parenting support) that will help them to build their skills and use their time in prison meaningfully.
- planning programmes that will help them to learn new behaviours and not offend again.
- making a pathway that is unique to them, and which prepares them for release. Planning for release can start even before a person knows their release date.
Supporting a person to access their culture, which is their right.
- People who want to deepen their cultural identity and strengths can choose to participate in Hōkai Tapuwae , a service that identifies the cultural strengths of tāne Māori (men) and wāhine Māori (women) to enhance their cultural identity. It gives a Te Ao Māori view about the person in prison and their whānau.
- A case manager can also help someone to see a kaiwhakahaere, cultural or religious leader. This could be because they want help with practising tikanga while they are in custody (such as accessing wai/water to bless themselves or places to eat away from bathroom areas) or knowing where they can pray.
Showing someone how to use the prison kiosk (an electronic terminal) so they can view their trust account details, make canteen orders, lodge requests or complaints and ask to meet with their case manager.

Supporting a loved one in prison

Some things that whānau/family can do to support someone during their prison sentence are listed below.

Try to keep in contact with the person in prison. Ara Poutama Aotearoa wants to make sure people keep in contact with each other, when it is safe, especially when they will be a part of their life when they are released.
Talk to the case manager. If the person accepts your support, then the case manager can support conversations to happen.
Ask the case manager about Hōkai Tapuwae. Hōkai Tapuwae gives a Te Ao Māori view about the person in prison and their whānau/family. It helps people get a better understanding of their history, strengths and aspirations.
Do you want to send property to someone in prison? We will remove most items that a person had with them in court for safety and security reasons (except medication, which will be looked after for them). Find out about personal possessions and what you are allowed to send.
Do you want to give someone money while they are in prison? Everyone in prison has a trust account which they can use to buy some grocery items and phone credit. Find out more about access to money.

Support while on remand

Waiting for a person’s next court hearing can be an uncertain time. You can still support a person who is remanded in custody.

Talk to the person in prison about what they need to do and ask how you can support them. They might need help to put things in order, such as phone their employer about keeping their job open, or their landlord about their home, or to help look after a pet.
Talk to the case manager about having a whānau/family hui. Ara Poutama Aotearoa supports people to connect with whānau who will help someone’s oranga/wellbeing. When someone is on remand, often it is good to bring whānau/family together to kōrero and help someone think of their future and eventual release.