Ngāti Pahauwera Supporting Maori into Corrections Department
Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust have come out in support of the Corrections Department recruitment of Maori into careers within the department. The Trust is working with the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Corrections to fill some 350 Correction Officer vacancies nationally.
The Trust had a great turnout at a Corrections Recruitment hui held at their Napier offices on 26 July 2016.
Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust CEO Robin Hape says “It was great to see the response and high attendance at this hui. Our aim is to advocate for increased and secure employment for our people. We all know the statistics and we certainly want to see less of our people in jail cells, but if they are in there then we prefer our Maori people guarding them. We believe our people can provide the positive role modelling inside the institutions as demonstrated by some of the Officers that presented at the hui. They were people who practiced tikanga in their private lives which they applied in their dealings with prisoners. Providing additional training and support will help get prospective applicants through the process and a cross-agency and Iwi approach is an effective way of supporting Māori into these jobs.”
The information evening was open to all but targeted at local Māori.
Recruitment staff and Corrections officers spoke to whanau about the types of jobs that they can do, the recruitment process and what they can expect when working in Prisons. The hui went into overtime due to interest and questions from attendees who came from a range of backgrounds and ages. Questions from attendees varied but included health requirements, preferred age range, impact on family at home, work safety and culture.
Ngāti Pāhauwera has also had an expression of interest from the Police to progress a similar in employment drive.
Ngāti Pāhauwera is working to influence this space on different levels. The Trust supports the corrections claim being heard by the Waitangi Tribunal saying that the Crown has breached Treaty obligations by allegedly failing to provide effective rehabilitation outcomes and reduce Maori reoffending rates.
Toro Waaka, Chairman of the Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust has given evidence at the claim.
People interested in corrections careers in Hawkes Bay can contact Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust (www.ngatipahauwera.co.nz) or go direct towww.frontlinejobs.corrections.govt.nz. There will be another Corrections Recruitment hui in Taupo.