"The participants were fully immersed in the planting process. They worked well as a team, their quality of work exceeded expectations, and the operation met or exceeded commercial standards.
"The contractor cannot speak highly enough about the trainees, who demonstrated an enthusiasm for the work, good physical fitness and a commitment to finding ongoing employment."
The training programme comprised eight weeks of classroom learning, delivered by NorthTec, and four weeks of practical field work under the guidance of a silviculture contractor.
"The scheme has delivered exactly what was hoped, by giving former prisoners real job skills and a positive future on their release.
"In addition, it's helped the local forestry industry to fill skill shortages and at the same time, plant more trees," Jones said.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said the training programme expanded on the release to work programme already in place in New Zealand prisons, while supporting regional employment opportunities and the One Billion Trees Programme.
"Our Government is committed to reducing crime and reoffending, and giving people in our prisons every opportunity to get their lives on the right track. Programmes like this one, which help offenders into sustainable employment, are an important step in achieving those goals," Davis said.
The pilot is now being reviewed to determine where and how it can be rolled out again.
Jones, however, cautioned against getting too carried by the success of the pilot.
''It takes lots of effort to turn someone's life around. Getting and then holding a job is just the first step on the rehabilitation pathway.''
