May 08, 2024
Māori keen on rehabilitation role
Labour Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel says iwi and hapu want to be involved at the design stage of any new prison rehabilitation project.
Corrections Minister Mark Michell has announced a $1.9 billion boost for Corrections in this month’s Budget, including $78 million for rehabilitation, with poisoners on remand able to access services for the first time.
He says the Government is committed to Māori rehabilitation programmes.
Ms Tangaere-Manuel says she’s keen to see the details.
“Iwi, hapu, whanau want to be involved from design to delivery. So whatever the Government’s plans are, which we’re still not clear of, I think that’s important to include,” she says.
In his week’s post-cabinet media standup the Prime Minister said some existing rehabilitation programmes were dumb and weren’t delivering.