Founded by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, are held every six years. More than 200 leaders in companies and organisations from the Commonwealth nations participate in these Conferences.
New Zealand’s largest prison recently hosted an international delegation from the 2003 Commonwealth Study Conference.The group’s 14 participants hold senior positions in corporate, government and non-profit organisations in countries such as Kenya, Bermuda, Malta, India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, Britain, and the Cook Islands.
Following the conference opening and plenary sessions in Australia, 14 study groups embarked on week-long study tours around Australia and New Zealand. The groups visited a range of workplaces to gain insight into local industrial, commercial and social situations and their successes, failures and opportunities.
Three study tour groups came to New Zealand, one of which visited Waikeria Prison. The prison accommodates up to 906 male and female minimum and medium security inmates.
The visitors were welcomed with a powhiri, a traditional Māori welcome, then visited the Prison’s Youth Unit, Addiction Treatment Unit, Māori Focus Unit and Women’s Unit.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase modern offender management and the work of the Public Prisons Service. The visitors were blown away by all that they learned,” says Waikato/Central Regional Manager Harry Hawthorn.
The study tour party walks through Waikeria Prison’s facilities.
Commonwealth Study Conference scholars are welcomed to Waikeria Prison with a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome) by the prison’s Maori Focus Unit inmates.