19 Aug 2019

Govt reveals major prison overhaul, focus on respect and whānau

From Morning Report, 7:38 am on 19 August 2019

Corrections is launching a major new strategy focused on treating prisoners with respect and giving them more access to whānau.

The new strategy, Hōkai Rangi, aims to cut the proportion of Māori in prison from 52 percent to 16 percent - to match the Maori population.

Inmates will have more phone calls and visits with their families, and kaupapa Māori programmes and therapies introduced at every prison.

Māori News Correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan has read the report and says it's a massive change.