Letters to the editor: Prisoners are paid and learn new skills

Work in a prison kitchen. Photo / File

In response to Jim Adams (Letters, May 19), having consulted to prisons for many years, who does the work in the prison system?

A prison is called by Goffman a closed institution. The laundry, cleaning, meal preparation and most maintenance is carried out by inmates who are paid.

In fact, the new prison block at Paremoremo was built on site by inmates, with prison supervision.

They learned skills to advance their own careers when released. There are numerous trade training and educational courses available to inmates.

Hear the good news about prisons in New Zealand too.

Anthony Lipanovic
Lake Rotoehu

How is the health service to Māori inadequate?

In reply to councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Opinion, May 19) - Maori demand same level of healthcare as Pakeha.

I am dumbfounded about her comments regards Māori health not being given the same priority as others.

Through my eyes, Māori have the same healthcare opportunities as all the nationalities, throughout New Zealand. I understand huge settlements from Treaty negotiations have been awarded so, why isn't this money being used to educate Māori on the benefits of looking after one's own health?

To quote Raukawa-Tait: ''So many reports, including from the Ministry of Health itself, have concluded that the current health system does not serve Māori well.''

I would like to know, how is the health service to Māori inadequate?

Pauleen Wilkinson
Rotorua

Why do Māori die 10 years earlier?

In Merepeka's Raukawa-Tait's column about Maori health (Opinion, May 19) she says, "Health experts say there are gross inequities in the [health] system caused by institutional racism".

We all want to see Māori in good health, of course, and don't like institutional racism but what is the reason that they die 10 years earlier (Raukawa-Tait's words) than Pakeha New Zealanders?

Douwe Visser
Lynmore

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