The joint initiative between Whanganui Prison and Department of Corrections has seen prison instructors teach community work supervisors in Palmerston North, Levin and Whanganui how to gain the Growsafe certificate. This allows supervisors to train suitable offenders, helping them to gain their own agrichemical qualification. The flow-on effect of the training will benefit community-based offenders who could also be trained in the future." Corrections said their top priority was to reduce reoffending and, helping offenders gain employment could reduce this likelihood. * Mt Eden is New Zealand's largest facility housing 1026 prisoners, Manawatu Prison currently has 283.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 04, 2016 00:00 UTC