By ANGELA GREGORY
KAIKOHE - A Northland prison to be built at Ngawha will lead the way into a new era of rehabilitation, says Corrections Minister Matt Robson.
The minister gave approval yesterday for the final step needed to designate the $60 million prison on rural land near Kaikohe.
He hoped it would lead to a reduction in crime through rehabilitation programmes, community partnership, and keeping Northland offenders close to home.
However, it had not yet been figured out exactly what kind of facility the 350-inmate prison would be, or the type of programmes provided.
Mr Robson also announced a national $4.2 million boost in spending on prisoner education, and the doubling of spending on tikanga Maori (customs) programmes. The extra funding would have a big impact on the Northland facility, he said.
The prison would include a Maori focus unit and a specialist youth unit with cells to handle suicidal inmates.
Security would be a priority, with a "modern perimeter fence."
The minister said extra funding would allow an iwi liaison officer to continue consulting locals.
"We must work together to establish exactly what kind of facility will be built at Ngawha, and what kinds of programmes will be run both inside the prison and on release."
Mr Robson said it was important that the Northland inmates were brought home to their own families.
"This in itself will increase our chance of cutting reoffending."
It was also important to see jobs available in Northland for prisoners on release, so the prison went hand in hand with regional development plans.
"I want this to mark a new era in corrections ... a focus on rehabilitation, on reducing reoffending, and on providing regional facilities where local people provide solutions to local problems."
The attitude of "you will go into a cell and that's the last we will see of you" was the worst thing for the public; it resulted in more victims of crime.
Mr Robson said he hoped people fearful of a prison might change their mind. Escapes understandably caused fear but they were relatively rare.
"There are no more Mt Edens. This is a correctional facility."
Kaikohe businesses have welcomed the prison, but Northland Maori remain divided.
Ngapuhi leader Graham Rankin is adamantly opposed to a Northland prison.
"I don't for a minute believe it will help my people. Find the root of crime and get rid of it."
Last night the Ngapuhi runanga (council) indicated it could appeal against the decision.
Ngati Hine leader Kevin Prime has already criticised the Department of Corrections for not sharing power with iwi. His people did not want to fight for the "scraps" of rehabilitation programmes.
Green Party justice spokesman Nandor Tanczos said Mr Robson seemed to have been captured by his officials and labelled the prison a disaster for Northland.
Northlanders he met wanted small rehabilitative units that focused on crime reduction.
Another opponent plans to fight the prison all the way through the courts. Shayron Beadle, who runs a pool resort neighbouring the prison site, feared tourists would be put off visiting if they knew a jail was next door.
Northland prison the way of future says minister
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