Tāne currently in service

“If it wasn’t for the wrap around support from the whare I would be deep in the life I lived in the past.

The engagement process was nerve racking in a way that it was different to speak about and come to terms with my offending and further treatments needed. With the support during my parole hearing, I knew I was in good hands coming to the whare. For the first 3 months I kept pinching myself because the support, aroha and manaakitanga was unreal.”

The transition into employment was made easy and was smooth sailing, with the slow progression allowing me to be mentally and physically ready for full-time employment.

When attending my recent parole hearing, I wasn’t holding my breath, but during the hearing listening to the positive feedback and my progression at the whare and how I have built positive relationships with probation, Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Raumanuka (TWWoR) and iwi reassured that I am in a positive place and reaping the rewards of my progress which was getting my bracelet removed.

From being at TWWoR there has been support with re-building my whānau relationships and now I am a positive role model for my son.
Ahakoa ngā piki me ngā heke, mā runga i te mannakitanga, te whanaungatanga me te aroha, ka haere waaka eke noa tatou.”

Tāne still behind the wire - going through the Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Raumanuka (TWWoR) assessment and engagement process

“I’m currently in Prison, I was released from Prison [earlier this year] after having served more than 15 years for Murder. Unfortunately, my release didn’t go as well as I would have liked and I was recalled back to prison after only being out for a short time. TWWoR has provided an opportunity for me to earn a chance to be considered for their service.

 When I was going through the assessment process to be considered for TWWoR, I realised that it was very different to what I had experienced before, in that I really had to earn the opportunity to be considered for their service. TWWoR isn’t like some other places whereby you only have a 20-30min meeting and then you get added to the books to move into their service. The whare process is really detailed and can take up to 10 weeks to complete.

TWWoR set the scene right from the start letting me know that I needed to be genuine about wanting to make positive change and that I needed to be honest. I initially agreed still not fully understanding what that meant. As the assessment progressed, I started to realise what TWWoR meant when they said I needed to be open and honest.

I had to answer all questions truthfully, including providing details regarding my index offence which was Murder. I’m not proud of what I’ve done, and I feel sincere remorse for the pain, suffering and sadness I’ve caused not only to the victims whanau – but also for the impact which my actions have had on my family.

 As challenging and confronting as it has been to speak about my offending history, TWWoR has always offered a safe space for me to talk about my offending without any judgement. They acknowledged me as a person and recognised that I have already been judged and have served my time. They just needed me to be open and honest so they could make a decision as to whether or not they felt I would be a good fit for their service.

TWWoR isn’t playing around, I have to earn my opportunity, and I have to continue to earn it through my actions and maintaining an incident, charge, misconduct free record whilst still inside and even once I’m released (hopefully to TWWoR).

 I’ve had the opportunity to participate in guided releases at TWWoR and from the very first time I attended the service I was made to feel welcomed by everyone there – The staff and the Men who are currently in their service.

I spoke with Men about their experience at the Whare and all of them spoke highly of the service,  how grateful they are to be at TWWoR and they encouraged me to continue to work towards coming to the whare. They each expressed that they’ve never felt or been a part of anything like what the whare has to offer. All of that information helped confirm for me that I’m on the right path and making a good decision in working towards trying to get to TWWoR.

 TWWoR feels like home and having the opportunity to see, feel, hear and experience the support which is available at the whare first hand has been a humbling experience for me. The Communication of TWWoR is always positive, honest and easy to understand.

When I’m in Prison and I get notified that I have a meeting via Audio Visual Link (AVL) with TWWoR – I’m always excited because I know I’m going to meet with people who actually care about what happens to me and who will support me as long as I do my part.

The whare continues to encourage me to stay out of trouble and to stay on the positive path I’m on, TWWoR continues to encourage me to work with my psychologist, to continue to work towards being accepted to the whare and to continue to work with my case manager.

I truly appreciate the opportunity I have to try and earn my place at TWWoR and I am committed to showing them that I can and will be a positive addition to their whanau”

Tāne currently in service

I have been in the system most of my adult young and into my adult life. I have had the opportunity to attend other forms of reintegration programs which have not worked out. I have been on a bracelet a number of times which I have never completed. Since being at the whare I have now been out for three months, which I have not been able to manage to do in the last 5 years of being in and out of prison. I have also managed to gain my restricted license with the help and Support of the whare. I also have had the opportunity to gain new skills and certificate in diving done with dive wellington, and doing the Kaitiaki Tangata programme and learned about the importance of providing for our community and whanau. All of these things I have done along my journey here at the whare are things I would have never done on my previous journey. I am grateful to be here at the whare and having the support. If I was not here I would still be on my old journey and not have any change. 

This is a great opportunity for future tāne, and I would recommend it to others looking to make positive change”.

Sister of one of our Tāne currently in service

“What a perfect opportunity for our brother to be surrounded and supported by a Māori organization where he can slowly integrate into the community. As a whānau from the first time we heard about Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Raumanuka (TWWoR), we knew that this would be a perfect place for our brother to get back on his feet because of the kaupapa that TWWoR has which is te ao Māori focused. Our brother can relate as much as we can in te ao Māori because this is our culture. We as a whānau believe that being te ao Māori focused helps a lot with barriers that have been instilled in our brother from years of incarceration. Our brother will relate to this program because his wairua will feel at home, and being Māori-focused I believe our brother will find familiar grounds, it will awaken him spiritually, physically and mentally because it will trigger memories of his childhood.

Our brother arrived at TWWoR on 14 October 2024 and in these few days his spirits have lifted, he sees the world through a different lens, and his conversations are not about his time in the Yard. He is positive, and his mindset is not about watching his back, but he has started to set goals and dream what he wants to achieve. Having contact with him daily where the phone calls don't get cut off. He has the freedom to talk as long as he wants and not have to rush everything into 5 minutes.

 I know that our brother has already started thinking about what he needs to do to get a job, he's already putting a plan together to do his own business, and he is keen and eager which tells me that his mindset is changing from how it was in jail where he was thinking of the next hustle. He is looking forward to studying and learning about Māori carving, I know that his dream is to be a master carver and go to Rotorua where he can display his work.

The best thing we have found about TWWoR is the communication that we have received thus far because we didn't know the process, I sent an email asking questions about certain processes with our brother residing at TWWoR and all our questions were answered and then we were updated about when our brother will have a phone so that we can start communicating with him. 

From my whānau, we would like to thank you all for the support you have shown to both our brother and the whanau. We can't wait to see what the next 3 months brings for our brother.

He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai (If kindness is sown than kindness you shall receive)”.