Mana Whenua representatives joined Corrections staff from Christchurch Women’s Prison (CWP) and National Office, and 30 wāhine on 31 May for the official opening and blessing of Te Waihora Therapeutic Community - New Zealand’s first therapeutic community for women in prison.

Manager Psychological Services/ Registered Clinical Psychologist Joanna says it was a special event for custody (Corrections Officers) and therapy and staff who have worked hard over many months to get the community running in the prison.

The unit will be operating a structured day, with the core rehabilitation programmes augmented by other activities that are designed to meet further reintegrative and rehabilitative needs.

When women graduate their core treatment programme, they will be able to remain in the community as mentors and graduates as they work towards the next steps in their journey and eventual release.

All women completing rehabilitation programmes, group treatment, individual treatment and potentially alcohol and drug treatment will reside at Te Waihora, a 30-bed unit of the same name.

“We have had STUs* (Special Treatment Units) in the men’s environment for a number of years,” Joanna says, “and these are consistently our most successful programmes, continuously providing the best results in terms of reducing re-offending.”

“Through Te Waihora, we are wanting to replicate the success that they’ve seen in men’s prisons, creating a therapeutic community targeting the specific needs of women.”

*What is a Special Treatment Unit (STU)?

STUs are separate units within a prison facility where therapy and custody staff work together to create a ‘community of change’ to support pro-social thinking, behaviour, and identity of participants. STUs are the most effective intervention provided by Ara Poutama Aotearoa, demonstrating consistent and significant impacts on re-offending rates.