A project aimed at growing the capability of women in the primary sector has been granted close to $300,000 in the latest Sustainable Farming Fund round, Associate Primary Industries Minister Louise Upston says.

The Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) has received $289,000 from the fund to design and deliver two-year pilot programmes around the country beginning in July.

“Our primary industries are a vital part of our way of life and are responsible for over 78 per cent of our exports. In order to keep these industries internationally competitive, we need investment, innovation, market development and a skilled workforce,” Ms Upston says.

“Projects such as this, which recognise the contribution women have to make in industries that may not be their traditional domain, are key to our future success”.

The programmes will focus on three key groups - Māori women in regional communities; young women entering agri-sector careers; and women with careers outside agriculture whose expertise can be used within the sector.

They will be delivered in key economic development regions including Northland, Bay of Plenty, West Coast, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu/Whanganui.

Corrections Minister Louise Upston today acknowledged eight Corrections staff who have helped with and developed corrections services in the Pacific.

Service pins were presented to the eight staff in a ceremony at Parliament to mark their work in Vanuatu and Samoa.

More than 60 New Zealand Corrections staff have served in the Pacific.

“This indicates the level of respect New Zealand Corrections has in the region. Corrections staff have used their expertise and experience to improve corrections operations in the Pacific,” Ms Upston says.

“Today’s recipients have between eight and 27 years’ experience with Corrections. Their work has helped establish custodial training programmes in Vanuatu and Samoa, including safety and security procedures that have been transitioned slowly to local authorities.”

Each recipient received a pin, known as the Hoe Akau. The Hoe Akau is a steering paddle, giving direction and support to other paddlers.

The idea to develop a pin for Corrections officers followed a long-standing policy to recognise police officers in a similar way for their service overseas.

Corrections personnel have worked in Vanuatu since 2005 helping update the management and operations of the corrections services on the island. A number of reform proposals have been devised including the establishment of a community probation service.

In Samoa, Corrections assisted with the development of training and operational protocols for the Samoan Ministry of Police and Prisons.

On Pitcairn Island, Corrections staff have previously monitored six offenders found guilty of sexually abusing children and have since returned for another deployment.  

Corrections’ new recruitment service is finding early success, with 140 offenders placed in permanent employment in just three months.

“Stable employment is a major factor to helping offenders lead better, crime-free lives. It is good for the offenders, their families and the communities they live and work in,” Corrections Minister Louise Upston says.

This Way for Work, established last October, is a two-year pilot programme aimed at supporting former prisoners and community offenders into stable employment and reducing the reoffending rate.

Eight in-house recruitment consultants work one-on-one with offenders around the country to match them with employers.

If needed, offenders are also given Employer Starter Packs which offer some financial assistance to support them into work. This may include transport costs, equipment or uniforms, training, licence fees and drug-testing costs.

“Finding 140 places in three months, which has included the traditionally quiet Christmas period, is a great start. I look forward to even greater outcomes as the programme gathers pace,” says Ms Upston.

“While offenders may have done work and skills training and education programmes, they may have limited practical knowledge and resources to translate this into stable employment. This Way to Work is designed to fill that gap.

“Having a criminal record can mean unemployment and barriers to the workforce. This programme is breaking down those barriers and supporting many offenders off benefits and into employment where they have the best chance of succeeding,” Ms Upston says.

The $2.5 million pilot programme complements a $15.3 million Budget 2016 investment over three years for a trial targeted at increasing the employment prospects of released prisoners.

Work and Income case managers and professionals work with prisoners from 10 weeks before release to up to 12 months after to help them prepare, find and stay in employment to help reduce reoffending.

Two men who got Kiwis behind a campaign to buy an Abel Tasman beach for the nation are among the 2016 Walking Access Champion award winners announced by Associate Primary Industries Minister Louise Upston tonight.

Duane Major and Adam Gard’ner helped raise more than $2 million through a high-profile Givealittle campaign last year to buy 7ha of private beach at Awaroa Inlet, which was then made part of the Abel Tasman National Park.

“Mr Major and Mr Gard’ner embody the spirit of the Walking Access Champion Awards, which recognise those who have made significant and lasting contributions to public access to the great New Zealand outdoors,” Ms Upston says.

Each year, nominations for Walking Access Champions are sought from the public, in particular individuals and organisations who work with the New Zealand Walking Access Commission.

“This includes securing new legal access, championing public rights of access, trail-building or contributing to ensuring the public understand access rights and responsibilities,” Ms Upston says.

Other recipients announced at a ceremony at Parliament tonight include Robert Lange and Russell Hamilton. 

“Mr Lange gifted 53,000ha of land in Central Otago, which is under a QEII National Trust covenant to provide public access in perpetuity. Mr Lange and Mr Hamilton are now creating a track network on the land for the public,” Ms Upston says.

Rod Eatwell, the largest private landowner on the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds, was also recognised as a Walking Access Champion. 

“At age 88, Mr Eatwell works continually to maintain his section of the track, including building a track to Eatwell’s Lookout, which provides unparalleled views of the Sounds,” Ms Upston says.

The Nelson Tasman Cycle Trust was recognised for its work over the past seven years to improve public access to the region. The trust developed the 38km Dun Mountain Trail and the 100km Great Taste Trail.

“These trails provide access for cycling, walking and commuting over an extensive area, some of which was not previously accessible to the public.

“Around 208,000 riders experienced the Great Taste Trail in 2015 and the trust is working on lengthening it into a 175km loop track.”

Other Walking Access Champions recognised tonight were:

Te Araroa Wellington Trust, which created the popular Paekakariki-Pukerua Bay Escarpment Track on the Kāpiti Coast which opened in April 2016.  By the end of its first year, around 60,000 people are expected to have walked the track, which has also had a positive impact on local businesses. Whareroa Guardians Community Trust which works to enhance public access on a significant section of land between Queen Elizabeth Park and the Akatarawa Forest Park on the Kāpiti Coast.  Since 2007 more than 50,000 plants have been planted by volunteers. The trust continues to work on projects across the farm, including restoration of native forest and wetland areas.

“Tonight’s award recipients have all made important contributions towards enhancing public access across the country,” Ms Upston says.

“I congratulate them for their achievements and their contributions towards enhancing the experience for everyone who enjoys New Zealand’s outdoors.”

Corrections Minister Louise Upston has congratulated 65 new Corrections officers and offender employment instructors who graduated from their 12-week training course today.

“I thank these men and women for choosing a career with Corrections and joining our efforts to protect public safety and reduce reoffending,” says Ms Upston.

“I am delighted to have such a high calibre of recruits joining the department.”

The new staff will be based at prisons throughout the country.

Darren Drewery of Rimutaka Prison was presented with the Minister’s Excellence Award to acknowledge the leadership, professionalism and all-round excellence he demonstrated throughout training.

Darren served in the British military for six years as an infantry officer before teaching scuba diving and managing a scuba and sports fishing centre in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

Throughout training Darren was seen as a quiet leader, achieved excellent results and was well-liked by his peers.

His decision to join Corrections in New Zealand was for a challenge to himself and the opportunity to help all sorts of people in his community.

“People like Darren are the positive role models people in prison need,” Ms Upston says.

“Their new career path will give them many opportunities to make a real impact on the lives of prisoners, their families and our wider communities.”

Corrections Minister Louise Upston has officially opened a new Hamilton Community Corrections site that is safer for staff and will help better with the rehabilitation of offenders.

The Hamilton site is the second centre to be completed this year, as part of a five-year nationwide programme to make Community Corrections sites more secure for both staff and offenders. A new Community Corrections site was opened last month in Hawera.

“Many offenders in our communities need support to make positive changes in their lives and we need to make this assistance as accessible as possible,” Ms Upston says.

The Hamilton site, which amalgamated six existing sites, gives streamlined services to offenders including education, work and living skills training, mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment, and on-site trade training facilities.

“The site has been set up to meet the rehabilitative needs of offenders and make it easier for them to meet the statutory requirements of their sentences,” Ms Upston says.

The on-site trade training facilities, which are the first of their kind for Corrections, will enable offenders to complete qualifications in areas where there are skill shortages locally.

Ms Upston says staff will benefit from improved security features including an anti-climb counter, better lines of sight and closed-circuit camera surveillance. More than 170 staff are empoyed at the site and help manage around 3000 community-based sentences and orders including home detention and community work. 

The Corrections Inspectorate is to be strengthened with a package of measures designed to increase transparency and provide assurance on the running of our prisons, Corrections Minister Louise Upston says.

“The Corrections Inspectorate is a critical part of the oversight of the Corrections system. This is a positive move that will improve public understanding and confidence in Corrections.”

The changes have been developed in consultation with the State Services Commission, and Corrections is working to implement them within the next six months.

Changes include the introduction of regular proactive reviews of all prisons and a new prisons inspection team that will work within but separately to the general Corrections Inspectorate. Reports by the prison inspectors will be provided to the Minister of Corrections and summaries of the reports will be released publicly.

Other changes include:

An enhanced Chief Inspector role which includes more wide-ranging powers and functions A boost in the number of Inspectorate staff, including eight new inspectors.

“These changes will provide greater assurance for me, the Corrections’ chief executive and his leadership team, and the public about the safe, secure and humane treatment of prisoners, operational issues and best practice,” Ms Upston says.

“The reviews will also identify emerging risks so that these can be dealt with swiftly.”

The new prison inspection framework will be based on international best practice. Under this framework prisons will be assessed on whether prisoners are safely held, treated with respect, engaged in meaningful rehabilitation and prepared for community reintegration.

The first inspection under the new framework will take place this month at Manawatu Prison.

Corrections is advertising to fill the role of the new Chief Inspector, who will oversee the new programme of inspections, along with the traditional work of investigating complaints and undertaking reviews.

The Corrections Inspectorate is to be strengthened with a package of measures designed to increase transparency and provide assurance on the running of our prisons, Corrections Minister Louise Upston says.

“The Corrections Inspectorate is a critical part of the oversight of the Corrections system. This is a positive move that will improve public understanding and confidence in Corrections.”

The changes have been developed in consultation with the State Services Commission, and Corrections is working to implement them within the next six months.

Changes include the introduction of regular proactive reviews of all prisons and a new prisons inspection team that will work within but separately to the general Corrections Inspectorate. Reports by the prison inspectors will be provided to the Minister of Corrections and summaries of the reports will be released publicly.

Other changes include:

An enhanced Chief Inspector role which includes more wide-ranging powers and functions A boost in the number of Inspectorate staff, including eight new inspectors.

“These changes will provide greater assurance for me, the Corrections’ chief executive and his leadership team, and the public about the safe, secure and humane treatment of prisoners, operational issues and best practice,” Ms Upston says.

“The reviews will also identify emerging risks so that these can be dealt with swiftly.”

The new prison inspection framework will be based on international best practice. Under this framework prisons will be assessed on whether prisoners are safely held, treated with respect, engaged in meaningful rehabilitation and prepared for community reintegration.

The first inspection under the new framework will take place this month at Manawatu Prison.

Corrections is advertising to fill the role of the new Chief Inspector, who will oversee the new programme of inspections, along with the traditional work of investigating complaints and undertaking reviews.

Corrections Minister Louise Upston has welcomed the release of the Chief Ombudsman’s report into Corrections’ care and management of prisoners at risk of self-harm.

“I have been briefed by the Corrections chief executive on the report into the use of restraints as part of the management of at risk prisoners,” Ms Upston says.

“There are lessons for Corrections in the Chief Ombudsman’s report and in the department’s own investigation into one of the cases. I am pleased that Corrections chief executive Ray Smith responded proactively by further investigating one of the cases in detail. A summary of the Chief Inspector’s report on that investigation has also been released today.

“As a result of these reports, there have been changes made to the policy and practice around the use of tie-down beds, and Corrections has begun a programme to improve the staffing and operating approach to its At Risk Units. I am also pleased that three of five recommendations arising from the Chief Inspector’s report have already been completed, with two being progressed,” Ms Upston says.

“Corrections staff perform an extremely difficult job and work with many prisoners who have complex and long-standing mental illness. The five cases highlighted in the Chief Ombudsman’s report represent some of the criminal justice and health sectors’ most challenging individuals.

“Without the intervention of Corrections staff, including the use of restraints, these prisoners may well have died. The bottom line for Corrections must always be to maintain the lives of the people in their care, while treating them with dignity.”

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Louise Upston has announced changes to Gisborne region’s Erosion Control Funding Programme to allow a wider range of measures to manage erosion in the region. 

The changes will support Te Huarahi Hei Whai Oranga – the Tairāwhiti Economic Action Plan, launched today.

The $30 million Erosion Control Funding Programme (ECFP), administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries, has been running since 1992. It focuses on reducing severe erosion in the Gisborne region, which is susceptible to high-intensity weather which causes soil erosion and downstream flooding.

“The Gisborne district has great potential for primary sector economic growth but in many cases erosion affects land productivity,” Ms Upston says.

“The changes involve widening the scope of what can be funded by the ECFP, meaning there will be funding available for a wider range of measures which support and contribute to forestry and erosion control. The fund will now be able to assist community groups, iwi and other organisations with innovative ideas to reduce erosion.

The programme was reviewed last year in consultation with Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou and Gisborne District Council. In November 2016 a change to the payment structure and an extension of the land categories eligible for funding were announced.

The further changes announced today complete the improvements that stemmed from the review.

“All the improvements that have been made to the fund are now in place to ensure we can support initiatives that will deliver the best outcomes for the Gisborne district,” Ms Upston says.

For more information on the Erosion Control Funding Programme visit www.mpi.govt.nz/ECFP