Maori leaders call for Corrections head to resign

Dame Tariana Turia

South Taranaki Maori leaders are calling for the chief executive of the Corrections Department to resign after a kaumatua was removed from his position at Whanganui Prison.

The call came from a 200-strong hui in Hawera on Wednesday, organised by Ngati Ruanui in the wake of the move, prompted by revelations from the Sensible Sentencing Trust revealed Patea man Ngapari Nui has ties to Black Power.

Minister for Corrections, Judith Collins, has promised a review into the matter.

Mr Nui is a kaiwhakamana at the prison, a voluntary position in which he assists inmates to integrate into life outside prison. He has held this role for five years.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer from Ngati Ruanui said the iwi would like to see "full and independent" review of the action taken to date and proper and informed process about the kaiwhakamana roles in prisons.

"Those like Ngapari Nui are the ones that make rehabilitation a reality. Throwing away the last 10 years of hard and dedicated work is just a huge slap in the face," Ms Ngarewa-Packer said.

Dame Tariana Turia, a Ngati Apa/Whanganui leader and former leader of the Maori Party, also criticised the decision to remove Mr Nui. She said Mrs Collins had acted in a "high-handed manner" by bowing to "the prejudice of a pressure group".

"We are disappointed, but not surprised, that the Minister has elected to take her advice on the issue of iwi representation from a political advocacy group, rather than iwi leadership," said Dame Tariana.

"Kaiwhakamana are not employees of [the] department. The use of the term kaiwhakamana by the department is intended to acknowledge the role of kaumatua who fulfill the role of specified visitors to prisons."

Dame Tariana said the appointment of kaiwhakamana must be approved after by nominated by iwi or other Maori organisations.

She said there had been no complaints about Mr Nui or his behaviour at Whanganui Prison.

"As far as we are concerned, the support of people in the kaiwhakamana role are vital to build that trust relationship which assists inmates in taking a fresh look at their lives, and committing to a future in which criminal offending plays no part."

Meanwhile, Whanganui MP Chester Borrows said he had known Mr Nui for a long time and thought he would be an asset to the prison.

But he said the matter was over to the Minister.

Maori Party co-leaders Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell also expressed disappointment at the situation.

"Mr Nui has a record of doing excellent work volunteering his time to help rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners to the community. He's been doing this for years and there hasn't been a problem," Mr Flavell said.

"It seems some people have oversimplified this situation and are preying on people's fears and prejudice."