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Kapa haka is providing a lifeline for wahine in Christchurch Women’s Prison.
Nine inmates have gained a level three certificate in Maori performing arts from Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Junior Tana, Corrections’ southern region Maori advisor, says it’s the first qualification some of the women have completed, and it sets them up for further study.
He says many of the women struggled to connect with their taha Maori and tikanga, and the course was a way to help them on a journey of self-discovery and reconnect with their whakapapa.
"When we attended the graduation at the end of the 15-week period we could see a good improvement in terms of their e te kite e to ratou mana e te puta mai ana, there were stark results in terms of them shifting along that confidence continuum," Mr Tana says.
The success of the course means it is being repeated for another group of 12 women.
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