Prison inmates have helped the Department of Corrections win a national art award - through their creativity in arts from carving to kapa haka.
The Big 'A' Prison Arts Leadership Award recognises that creativity is working to rehabilitate prisoners.
Corrections manger Mark Lynds says art and cultural knowledge is one of the most important keys to restoring mana and getting prisoners to turn their lives around.
Of the 1100 prisoners he deals with, Mr Lynds says half of them are doing art.
