Trees at the nursery.
Photo: RNZ / Katie Doyle
The work is part of a years-long collaboration between Corrections, the hapū Ngāti Rongomai, and the conservation group Project Tongariro.
Men at Tongariro Prison are referred to as Paihere, a title developed for the prison in consultation with Iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa in 2016.
Corrections said it referred to an individual or group of people in its care, seeking, gathering, collecting, learning knowledge to ultimately become a better and more well rounded person.
A handful of Paihere work in the on-site nursery, brimming with trees like mataī and totara. Being around nature, it s grounded me. It s slowed me right down, said one of the men.
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A man who came through state care in foster homes, a boys home, corrective training and eventually prison, believes his life has been set back at least 30 years by the way he was treated and the physical and psychological abuse he received.
Stanmore Road Boys Home in Christchurch was sort of a violent place but worse was to come for a man who has shared his experiences with RNZ. (file pic)
Photo: 123RF
Aaron, who is 50, came from a broken home and his interview with RNZ is the first time he has spoken publicly about his experiences in care.
He lived on the street for a year at the age of 9.