Prisoners' art helps change their ways

Programme director Ann Byford speaks at the Karaka Special Treatment Unit art unveiling.

Enrolling in an art programme is one of the steps Waikeria Prison inmates are taking to avoid future offending.

Over the last four months, eight male prisoners constructed a garden of artwork at the Karaka Special Treatment Unit.

The project was directed by artist Ann Byford and unveiled at a ceremony last week.

The garden narrates the journey of the inmates and some of the obstacles they have faced.

The inmates started with a blank courtyard area in March.

After months of work the group created mosaics, paintings, tuku tuku panels, stone carvings, a karaka tree and wind chimes.

At the unveiling one man spoke about the significance of the karaka tree.

"Like the fruit of the karaka tree, Karaka Unit offers fruit in abundance to feed the hearts and minds of those who have come to seek a new direction for their lives."

He said the Karaka Unit is an opportunity for men to make timely decisions that could change the course of their life.

Another man said the project was fun, therapeutic and rewarding.

The Special Treatment Unit provides treatment programmes for high-risk violent offenders and medium to high-risk adult sexual offenders.

The programmes are designed to help the men gain insight into their unhelpful behaviour patterns and develop ways of coping with life stress.

They assist the men to make positive changes in their lives with the aim to avoid future offending.

Director Ann Byford says working with a group of men at various stages of treatment was a rewarding challenge.

"What it takes is patience, humour and passion."