New Zealand Parliamentary Debate

Questions for Oral Answer [4423]

a-noho mo taua hunga, ko Montgomery House i Kirikiriroa ko te rua tekau ma rua mano taara ke, i Salisbury Tiriti i Otautahi, ko te rua tekau mano ke?

An interpretation in English was given to the House. What explanation can he give for the disproportionate allocation of funding for Te Ihi Tu Trust, at a cost of 13, 000 per offender, when compared with the funding for the other two community residential centres for high-risk offenders-Montgomery House in Hamilton, at a cost of 22, 000 per offender; and the Salisbury Street Foundation in Christchurch, at a cost of 23, 000?

Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR

: I am not familiar with the details of the contracts with those providers, but the Department of Corrections negotiates with a large number of providers to provide rehabilitation and reintegration services. If there are problems with those contracts, then I suggest those providers talk directly with-and I encourage them to do so-the department.

Hone Harawira

: Kua rongo ia i nga korero patipati o te Kaiwhakawa a Pateriki Toomey o te Poari Mauhere mo te taumata kua ekehia e Te Ihi Tu, he mahi kia pai te tumanako me te patai hoki he aha nga mahi o tona Tari kia whakatinanatia i o ratou mahi rangatira i te mea torutoru noa iho nga tangata i tukuna atu ki taua kaupapa?

An interpretation in English was given to the House. Is he aware of the glowing testimony from Judge Patrick Toomey of the Parole Board, who has described the very successful outcomes of Te Ihi Tu Trust as very encouraging, and what efforts will the department make to respond to this testimony in addressing the low referral rates to the programme?

Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR

: I applaud some of the initiatives that are taking place for community rehabilitation and reintegration. I have stated on a number of occasions that the Department of Corrections is now focused far more on rehabilitation and reintegration. We will work with more providers to ensure that the people who go through our system do not reoffend and come back in. Those providers that can show they are successful will be supported, and we will expand those programmes.

Martin Gallagher

: Has the Minister seen any reports on the success of the department's efforts in rehabilitation and reintegration?

Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR

: Yes. I have seen reports showing that prisoners who complete the Te Piriti programme have a reconviction rate of just 5. 47 percent. I have also seen growing evidence that training for employment and education can reduce reoffending. That is why I and the department are committed to boosting employment hours from, currently, 2. 9 million to 4. 1 million, and lifting the number of New Zealand Qualifications Authority units attained from 4, 800, currently, to 16, 600.

Te Ururoa Flavell

: He aha nga korero kua korerohia me nga iwi o Taranaki mo nga whainga arotau mo Te Ihi Tu, na runga i to ratou kore hiahia kia taea atu te hunga koeretanga, ki te kore, he aha ai?

An interpretation in English was given to the House. What consultation has been undertaken with Taranaki iwi on the eligibility criteria for Te Ihi Tu, in light of their consistent preference to preclude any offender with prior sexual offences from the programme; if there has not been any, why not?

Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR

: I am aware that the programme struggled to fill the places early on. The criteria for eligibility for that have been changed. I am sure the Department of Corrections is happy to have ongoing discussions with the trust to expand the programme when it shows its success-as I am sure it will do, from the current evaluation taking place.