How Auckland South Corrections Facility foster positive change and cultural connections Transforming Lives and Communities

Serco works closely with community and partners to support initiatives to address social and cultural change, promoting positive attitudes and strong cultural values including a greater sense of wellbeing and whanaungatanga (belonging) at Auckland South Corrections Facility (Kohuora).

In line with the Department of Corrections Hokai Rangi Strategy, Serco is committed to delivering positive outcomes for the Maori men in our care and their whānau, in an effort to address the significant over-representation of Māori in the corrections system.

In 2012, the New Zealand Government commissioned the construction of a new prison in South Auckland. This facility was the first in New Zealand to be designed, built, and operated as a public-private-partnership (PPP).

As part of the private-partnership, community groups were formed to collaborate with the prison on addressing potential social and cultural impacts and to facilitate cultural change.

Auckland South Correctional Facility (Kohuora) was opened in 2015.

The facility can accommodate up to 960 sentenced male prisoners and is classified as a high-security prison, with the capacity to hold up to 360 high-security prisoners. Prisoners are housed in secure accommodations that are appropriate to their security classifications. The prison does not house remand or maximum-security prisoners.

The prison has three primary pou, or pillars:

Safe and secure prison
Reducing reoffending
Better outcomes for Māori.

Case study: Te Whare o te Whaiora (House of Well-being) unit at Kohuora

Te Whare o te Whaiora (House of Well-being) and the Pūwhakamua Concept address the over-representation of Māori in New Zealand prisons.

These innovations align with the Hōkai Rangi strategy, emphasising a Māori way of living in Corrections operations.

Serco, in partnership with iwi, implements these concepts at Kohuora Auckland South Corrections Facility.

Men can be bailed to a supportive housing environment in Rotorua, in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, with full immersion in Te Reo and the Tikanga teachings of their ancestors.

Puwhakamua addresses social and cultural issues through a Community Impact Forum and Tangata Whenua Committee and is supported in partnership by Te Arawa’s Iwi’s Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust.

These initiatives align with the overarching goal of achieving better outcomes for Māori within the corrections system.

Pūwhakamua was founded by a former offender who transformed his life through reconnection with the Māori way of life, endorsed by Te Arawa iwi and supported by the Kohuora team. In August 2019, a Māori focus wing called "Te Whare o te Whaiora" was established to immerse men in their culture.

Quotes from men in the Te Whare o te Whaiora unit

Whai Ora to me is a way of establishing my roots and cultural identity. Whai Ora represents a pathway in which this can happen.

The reclamation of who we are as an indigenous culture. Wanting the best for our people.

A chance to reconcile with my whanau and community through the practices of Tikanga concepts taught within Te Whare O Te Whai Ora.

Whai Ora is the ability to bring understanding of prospects, furthermore, inverting heightened awareness to one's responsibilities to whanau therefore enhancing cognitive decision processes in a positive manner.

Whai Ora shows we can overcome barriers of forbearance to better ourselves to promote safe and healthy lifestyles for us and our whanau.

Whai Ora is a journey of change and discovery into who we once were, and enhancing enlightenment to who we can be. Utilising traditional methods of rehabilitation through re-indigenising all who walk through the door.

Case study: Kick for the Seagulls program at Kohuora

Kick for the Seagulls program developed by Sir Graham Lowe, uses sport to teach positive attitudes and behaviours, challenging prisoners to change their behaviour and extend their educational goals.

Kick For The Seagulls is a 17-week prison programme, designed to teach in a non-traditional way-through the language of sport. The program is based on 12 principles Sir Graham Lowe used throughout his coaching career and has not only has achieved outstanding results in education but also has influenced a positive change in attitude and behaviour inside New Zealand prisons.

This is not just some program [where] they have to tick a box and can’t identify with it. He (Sir Graham Lowe) delivers principles to them that they really comprehend and can identify with. They see others in the program having success and realise if they stick with it, they themselves can succeed. It has a high success rate.

Marie Dyhrberg
QC*

In 2017 Serco introduced the program into Kohuora with more than 200 paiāki (men) graduating since the program was introduced.

The programme includes a 60 credit New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 2) qualification where students build their literacy and numeracy skills.

There are two parts to the daily program:

Theory sessions (sports industry, numeracy, literacy, life skills, and introduction to sport and recreation)
Practical sports sessions where students learn a range of sport and fitness fundamentals and concepts.

Recently, Minister of Corrections Mark Mitchell visited Kohuora for the first time to attend the 'Kick for the Seagulls' graduation. During the presentation a student acted as MC, demonstrating the leadership skills taught in Sir Graham Lowe’s programme. Both Sir Graham and Minister Mitchell addressed the crowd, and Minister Mitchell expressed positive feedback about his visit across Kohuora prior to the graduation ceremony.

* Marie Dyhrberg QC is a senior barrister specialising in criminal law and appears regularly at the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal in New Zealand. She also appears with clients before the Parole Board. Her experience and expertise were recognised in her appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 2014.

Quotes from men who have graduated from Kick for Seagulls

I have now been living a wonderful life outside of prison for the last year. I am now completing a Bachelor of Business and am on track to finish this at the end of next year.

I still apply the 12 dynamic principles in my life on a daily basis. They come in especially handy in my job as Acting Foreman. In my role with the company, I am responsible for a department of 60 people and I directly lead a team of 30.

I'm now at the point where I want to start giving back in a meaningful way. In particular, I'd like to give back to the community. I'd also like to give back to Team Lowie.

I would like to show my appreciation by thanking you for coming up with these amazing articulate 12 dynamic principles that you have bestowed upon me. You have no idea how grateful I am. I feel a sense of completion and revelation toward my life.

Nei rā te mihi nui o Serco Asia Pacific ki nga iwi taketake, ngā tangata whenua o Aotearoa me tō rātou hononga ki a Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku otira ki ngā hāpori katoa o te motu. Me mihi hoki ki ngā Mātua o nehe, aini, mo ake tonu atu. Mauri ora.

Serco Asia Pacific acknowledges the people of the land, the original inhabitants of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and their connection to Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Mother Earth) also the many communities throughout this land. We pay homage to the elders of our past, our present and forward into our future generations.