Pacific peoples in New Zealand constitute a rapidly growing and changing population. In a New Zealand context, Pacific peoples are people from the smaller island nations of the Pacific region who have migrated and settled in New Zealand. The main islands being Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue, Tokelau and Fiji. In 2001 there were 231,798 people of Pacific ethnicity living in New Zealand.
As a group Pacific peoples are over-represented in the prison population with Pacific inmates comprising consistently around 10 percent of the prison population and yet Pacific peoples comprise only six percent of the general population. In response, the Department of Corrections has developed its first-ever strategic plan for Pacific peoples, The Pacific Strategy 2002 – 2005.
The Strategy aims to specifically address re-offending by Pacific offenders through rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community, responding to increased demand to accommodate the needs of Pacific peoples, enhancing organisational capability to be responsive to the needs of Pacific peoples and, establishing formal working relationships with Pacific communities. The Strategy was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and Pacific communities throughout New Zealand.
Senior Policy Adviser (Pacific) Selafi Purcell says New Zealand was the dream destination for Pacific peoples, offering a better future for them and their children.
“The Strategy aims to provide Pacific offenders with the hope and means of living in a crime-free lifestyle by reducing the risks of re-offending.”
The Department has also launched the Fautua Pasefika Policy, a key initiative of the Strategy which allows nominated Pacific community leaders greater and easier access to prisons, and Pacific inmates. The Policy allows these community leaders to advocate on behalf of the community to the Department and Minister of Corrections on any issues affecting Pacific inmates. The Department launched a similar initiative for Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) last year.
Caption:
New Zealand's Corrections Minister Mark Gosche addresses the audience at the launch of the Pacific Strategy.