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NZ prisoners exporting to Australia

In a first for a New Zealand prison, timber products made by offenders at Hawke’s Bay Prison are being exported directly to Australia. Source: Voxy

This is a combined effort between Corrections and Hume Pine (NZ) Ltd where in a long-standing commercial relationship, prisoners manufacture laminated door core panels for Hume Pine in the timber-processing unit at Hawke’s Bay Prison.

These panels are loaded into containers and exported to Australia where they are processed further to make doors.

Previously the door core panels were sent to Hume Pine in Rotorua and then exported.

From May, because of Corrections’ proven quality and assurance processes, containers have been filled, certified and exported directly from the prison site at Hawkes’ Bay.

Each container takes 597 door cores. The containers go from the prison to the Port of Napier to Tauranga and on to Australia.

Two containers have already been sent, and the aim is for two containers a month to be exported directly from the prison.

“Exporting directly is a major achievement as New Zealand’s biosecurity standards are very high. The prisoners are gaining valuable skills in timber processing and if they go on to become certificated for exporting, they will become more employable on release,” said prison manager George Massingham.

“Corrections is committed to reducing re-offending by 25% by 2017, and research shows that prisoners who find sustainable work after release are less likely to re-offend.”

Corrections has received accreditation from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international organisation which promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

This enables the Department to certify quality management of systems processes and employee training.

Prison staff are being trained in export compliance including international standards for Phytosanitary Measures, which regulate the export of wood materials.

The aim is for groups of suitable prisoners to also be trained for the Phytosanitary Certificate, which will enable them to work in the export industry on release.

Groups of 16 prisoners working in timber processing at the prison have been making the door core panels since March 2011 and have been gaining qualifications in solid wood manufacturing to a level-2 National Certificate.

The door core panels are made as a custom processing operation, with direct costs charged out at current market rates.

The Department aims to provide quality employment activities, the opportunity to attain recognised qualifications, and more vocational training and on-the-job experience.