Wow! I have to say that I am a little
overwhelmed by today, in a really positive way!
I had my second day in Wellington being
hosted by Richard and Arts Access Aotearoa.
In the morning we met with Sharon Hall who
is the Restricted Programmes Coordinator for The Learning Connexion. This is a
programme that anyone can apply to do, it’s a bit like doing the Open
University and it is to allow people to study art. This programme is used in
prisons, but it is not exclusive to prisoners, it is open to anyone who fits
the criteria. It was great to meet with Sharon as just from having a
conversation with her, I could tell how passionate she is about arts in
prisons, and I wonder just how successful this project would be if it wasn’t
Sharon running it. The centre provides the student with materials that they
need to do their work, and this obviously involves negotiation with each
individual prison, as each one has a different way of working, and then when
there are staff changes, this can change things again. To have students in
every prison, which they have, has taken time and I think a lot of that must be
due to Sharon’s personality and passion.
What I also really like is that once
released the student can continue to study their course, and I think the fact
that they still have this is great, as it is something that stays the same,
while everything else has changed. Upon release, when they get sent further
materials that they weren’t allowed in the prison, Sharon will send them a list
of people on the outside that they can contact if they have problems
readjusting, or if they need help. She works closely with probation officers
too, so that people feel supported.
For those who are inside, members of staff
will try and visit the prisons regularly, and if they can’t, all participants
have their phone number so they can call if they don’t understand something or
need help, and Sharon or one of the mentors can talk them through it. Although
they provide distance learning, they have an admirable hands on approach.
In the afternoon Richard took me to
Rimutaka Prison to the Maori Focus Unit. The Maori culture is quite a strict
one, a long time ago doing something wrong could have ended up with a
beheading! We met John who is the Prison Officer in charge of the Unit. When we
entered he welcomed us he recited his Mihmihi (I think that’s right!) where he
tells me his name, where he is from, where his family are from, and the river
and mountain nearest his people. I then replied, thankfully it was okay for me
to do in English. There is a hope that participation in this unit will restore
Mana, which is a Maori word meaning dignity and respect. This is a culture that
is proud and respectful, and you can tell that this has been passed on as the
rooms are spotless, no graffiti or mess anywhere. There are prayers that are on
the wall of the carving room, and they must be said first thing in the morning
and last thing at night. In the classroom where the prisoners go to learn the
Maori language the first rule is that English cannot be spoken. Many of the men
in the Unit cannot speak Maori or are not that aware of the culture, and so it
is relatively new to them. They are told of Maori myths, rituals and customs.
We went into the art room where Chris Barrand also teaches. One of the men was painting
a sun setting over a mountain that is connected to his Maori ancestors, and he
plans to paint a symbol over the sun. He wants to give this painting to his
sons and tell them the myth of the mountain. He has been sending his youngest
son paintings of animals putting their English and Maori names on them so what
he is learning will be passed onto his children. When we were leaving, the men
decided that they wanted to perform a kappa haka for me. This was unlike
yesterday when the women were rehearsing and Anne suggested they do it, nobody
asked them to, but they decided to do it. It was so different seeing that to
the women’s one. They both are so energetic and passionate. It’s very different to watching the All
Blacks do it on television, it really was quite incredible and is something I
will never forget.
When we were leaving John caught up with us
and gifted me with traditional Maori jewelry that he carved out of bone for me,
it’s called taonga and it means treasure. It is really special and represents
prosperity and good health. I’m so unbelievably touched by the generosity that
has been shown to me here.
On the way back into Wellington Richard
kindly showed me the other side of Maori culture, yes there are a disproportionate
amount of Maoris in prison, but he also took me to see Wairaheti Marae which is
the building or meeting house of a tribe that has been very successful. We met
Lillian Hetet who’s family are very influential in this tribe, he mother was a
very famous artist, not just in Maori culture but worldwide, and her father was
a carver. It was great to meet her, she explained a lot about Maori culture to
me, which is fascinating, and I think vital to know when looking at arts and
culture in New Zealand.
I still can’t believe what happened today!
It was fantastic and I feel so lucky to have experienced it. I’m gutted that
this is my last day in Wellington with Arts Access, I’ve had an amazing time
and I have learnt so much. I’m off on a short break around the South Island,
and then I’m up to the Northern Region to visit the prison up there. They also
have a Maori Focus Unit, which is bigger than the one in Rimutaka as the Maori
population is bigger there.
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| My taonga! |
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| Richard, Lillian and I |
