News of facility a shock to town
Concerns have been expressed in Otane about the establishment of a ‘women's correctional facility’, apparently without prior consultation in the town.
The facility, owned by Housing New Zealand, will focus on reintegration of inmates into the community and is to be based at Te Waireka, formerly used as a residential drug rehabilitation programme centre for youth. The programme was run by Central Health and closed after Central Health was bought by Hastings area Ma¯ ori authority Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.
The establishment of the women’s facility was confirmed last week by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga chief executive George Reedy who said the programme, E Hine, would be a game-changer.
“So often people fall through the cracks because the odds are completely stacked against them,” he said. “Then it becomes harder for them to put everything back together.”
Annemarie Kupa says she and her family were shocked to hear of the proposal.
Concerns led to a taiwhenua representative last week attending a meeting of local group Progressive Otane, but Ms Kupa says the community wanted a wider public meeting.
A taiwhenua spokesperson said those on the project would not necessarily be inmates or exinmates, but mainly parolees or court referrals, and the taiwhenua would have the final say on who is accepted.
Ms Kupa says: :”We are not saying we are against this. We have heard rumours. Now we've seen the advertisements. We want to know what's going on.”
A flier made available at last week's meeting says the taiwhenua is providing a programme to be called E Hine and “partnering to offer an innovative therapeutic, residential programme designed to help wa¯ hine Ma¯ ori live healthy fulfilling lives”.
“The goal is to encourage Otane residents to consider sharing their skills, interest, and hobbies with the wahine residents at Te Waireka,” the flier says.
But Ms Kupa says no one in the community appears to have been involved.
“The members of the community and our hapu that I have spoken to were not aware of any meeting or official engagements having occurred.”
She said it appeared the only “suitable component” was the availability of the premises, but that Otane itself “offers nothing to successfully support a reintegration facility”.
Mr Reedy said the place itself was peaceful and secluded.
“It will enable the residents to fully immerse themselves in the programme and get the most from it.”
He said Otane would benefit with the creation of 10 new jobs and “further down the line” residents would be invited to share their skills and knowledge with the women at Te Waireka.
After the community expressed concerns, a public meeting was expected to be held this week.