House build in jail inspires prisoners

A group of inmates at Ngawha Prison are upskilling and building a house for families in need. Photo / Alexandra Newlove

Ngawha Prison inmates building a house say the fact their creation will go to a family in need makes the process more satisfying.

Ten inmates at Ngawha's Northland Region Corrections Facility have been working on the latest house for Habitat for Humanity, which on completion would be craned over prison walls and trucked to its new site at Tikipunga.

Project leader and Ngawha inmate Ross - whose name has been changed - said he had been a competent builder for about nine years, but had never received a formal qualification, until he was sent to prison.

"This is a good opportunity just to finish off the paperwork," he said.

Habitat for Humanity's Assisted Home Ownership scheme formerly saw families contribute 500 hours building their home alongside prisoner work parties from Corrections outside the wire. However, a rule revision after a high-profile prisoner escape in 2014 meant the houses now had to be built inside the prison.

Ross said he had been approved to be released to Christchurch, where he hoped to find building work. He and his team would earn their NCEA Level 3 construction and carpentry qualification through the build.

Ross said it was good to be able to pass on his knowledge to others.

"I've always been patient but it's given me more skills to explain things in a way people will understand," he said.

"It makes it even better knowing it [the house] will go to a family that's a little bit less fortunate."

Habitat is going through the application process to find a family suitable for a three-bedroom house, which was still five to six weeks away. On completion the house will be craned over two prison walls - an extremely technical job, said the prison's employment project manager Ben Whitaker.

The family would help finish the house off on its Corks Rd site and would then move in and begin making affordable, regular repayments to Habitat.

Habitat's Northland executive officer Conrad LaPointe said the changes at Corrections meant the family were now involved mainly in doing the interior and landscaping of their property, rather than the build. They made up their 500 hours through other charitable work for Habitat and other organisations.

"[Building inside prison] adds to the cost, but we still see this as a great value partnership," Mr LaPointe said. "The prisoners are still learning skills."