The Corrections Department is seeking tenders from organisations interested in providing tikanga Maori programmes for inmates in four of its Maori Focus Units.
The programmes are designed to re-integrate traditional Maori cultural values, knowledge and practices into the everyday lives of Maori prisoners and help them return to a lawful life outside jail.
Department director, Maori, Neil Campbell says for the first time the contracts being offered to organisations are for three rather than two years.
He says that gives service providers greater certainty and Corrections the chance to better evaluate the effectiveness of programmes.
Mr Campbell says because Corrections has to be responsible in the way it spends taxpayers money it has to become more definitive in its tendering process about what services it wants and needs to purchase from outside organisations.
He says programme providers have until the end of July to contact the department.
