"Our bottom line is about ensuring the safety of our communities and the safety of the public. One of the key ways that Corrections can do that is through reducing reoffending."
During that period CP instituted He Raranga Hou, a new way of working for probation officers which emphasises principles such as manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness) and whanaungatanga (a sense of familial connection) in their interactions with people on parole.
Mr Tawera, a former probation officer, said the idea was to build a solid foundation from the first interaction between the officer and the released offender. "I think a good officer, for me it's someone who has the ability to relate and actually engage and talk with people at a level they understand. I don't think you can come across as officious or someone talking down."
It's an approach that is being used for all ex-prisoners - not just Maori.
"Of course there's a school of thought out there in the public they would like to see these types of people, especially those who might be in for more serious offending, to be locked up and throw away the key. But that doesn't happen in reality and eventually these guys have to be released into the community."
Sensible Sentencing trust Garth McVicar said the changes sounded like a former Corrections programme called He Ara Hou, which he called a disaster.
"What they are experimenting with now I don't see anything different. In a nice world that's the way we should treat people, the way we would like to be treated ourselves. But I don't think in the real world we're dealing with a lot of the issues those people have got."
On parole
*Once prisoners are released, they must report to a Community Probation office within 72 hours.
*An Offender Plan, a contract between an individual and an officer, is developed. May include conditions around employment and training.
*For offences such as murder, an individual might be on parole for the rest of their lives.
