Corrections' review sees iwi prison volunteer's approval revoked
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
A decision to block a South Taranaki man from visiting prisons has been criticised by an iwi leader, who has described it as a sign of a deteriorating relationship between the Crown and Maori.
On Tuesday, the Department of Corrections released its findings into an extensive review to see whether any of its prison volunteers had gang connections.
The investigation was launched in July after Corrections Minister Judith Collins was advised Taranaki man Ngapari Nui had a lifetime membership to the Black Power. Nui, who is from Ngati Ruanui, had been appointed as a kaiwhakamana, a role he previously held for five years.
As a result of the review, Nui, along with one other volunteer out of the 7000 screened, had their approved status revoked.
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* Taranaki iwi leaders defend prison worker Ngapari Nui over gang connections
* Prison volunteers barred following review of gang connections**
Te Runanga o Ngati Ruanui kaiarataki Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Corrections was standing by its view that it had been unaware of the extent of Nui's gang affiliation, despite a paper trail which showed the contrary.
'It's become more about a saving face exercise for Ray Smith (Corrections' boss) and the Minister,' she said.
The Corrections probe found the other person was a gang associate, with a conviction for methamphetamine production.
Ngarewa-Packer said she only found out about the review findings when she was contacted by the media and felt it was another deliberate snub of the iwi, who had not been contacted by either Smith nor Collins at any point during the process.
'There's a total disregard for the treaty relationship with our iwi,' she said.
She said the latest development was also symptomatic of a 'deterioration' in the iwi-Crown relationship regarding justice related issues.
While considering its legal options, Ngarewa-Packer said she intended to contact Collins and hoped to meet face to face with Smith as well.
She said Nui was disappointed with the outcome.
He had hoped to get reinstated to the role and would have been happy to observe any conditions Corrections wanted to impose on him, she said. His work in the prison had involved talking with inmates and offering them support.
While he undertook the kaiwhakamana role in prisons, Nui has also worked extensively in the South Taranaki community. Police have also called upon his expertise in the past to defuse gang tensions, Ngarewa-Packer said.
She said while Nui had considered cutting ties with Black Power in the past, he believed he could achieve more by maintaining his links and leading by example in terms of advocating for positive change.
Ngarewa-Packer said while there might be an opportunity to put someone else forward for the kaiwhakamana role, Nui had been the best fit and had pan-tribal support to do it.
'We don't have anyone else who has that type of experience, with that type of background.'
Scott Guthrie, of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, said he believed Corrections had 'got it right' in terms of the review's outcome.
The trust was the group which informed Collins' about Nui's gang membership.