“Our staff volunteers are excited and proud to be conduits between Ara Poutama Aotearoa and our community, and to share our Corrections’ mahi with our community. The foot traffic is expected to be bigger than last year and the opportunity to increase our visibility in the community is massive.”

The Corrections staff also have a strong focus on OCF Prison Industries, especially the Carpentry programme.

“The team is proud to promote the amazing work of our qualified staff at Carpentry and the excellent career prospects Prison Industries offers for staff - and their learners,” says Marua. “We have been hearing great success stories with people changing their lives as a result of the work of staff in OCF Industries.”

Marua says being a stallholder also provides an ideal opportunity for relationship building between organisations supporting the Pacifica communities.

“Stall holders include representatives from Government Agencies, NGO’s and private sector organisations,” she says. “All stallholders have an important role in enriching the festival experience. This was amazing. We have caught up with many friends at Police, Otago Polytech, Otago Museum, Te Whatu Ora and many more.”

Te Waipounamu Recruitment Lead Kath says, while recruitment is a focus, attendance at community events provide a chance for meaningful conversations about the broader scope of our work.

“These events foster a deeper understanding of what we do and enable the public to connect with us beyond just job opportunities,” she says. “It’s a great way for people to learn more about the impact we have in the community and the positive role we play."

OCF Deputy General Manager Site Pathways Nadine agrees and adds that conversations at these events help us bridge the gap between our work and people, and the public perceptions.

“Events like the Polynesian Festival give the public an opportunity to ask questions of our staff and better understand the journey of people in our services, especially prisons."

"They offer insight into our work and the opportunities people on sentences in prison have - to engage in rehabilitation, education and training, to gain skills and qualifications, to enhance their well being and put their offending behind them. We can speak directly with people about the role they can play in helping people in our services to sustain a new life on release, into employment and on their reintegration back to whānau and community.”