METRONEWS
© New Zealand Broadcasting School 2024

by New Zealand Broadcasting School students

Christchurch offenders help to keep local groups afloat

News

Abbey Wakefield

Canterbury offenders completed over 100,000 hours of community service last year, giving their services to not-for-profit groups and local organisations.

In Canterbury, over 1000 offenders were sentenced to complete community work hours, contributing a total of 137,207 hours to organisations across the region.

Corrections' Canterbury District Manager Lisa Joseph said offender labour is greatly valued by a wide range of the community, especially groups and organisations that rely on volunteers to keep going.

"The contribution of offender labour is greatly appreciated and can be the difference between these local projects being completed quickly, on a budget, or even being done at all."

 

communitywork
An offender undertakes detagging in Christchurch. Department of Corrections

Projects undertaken by community work include the ongoing development, maintenance, and beautification of public walkways, bikeways, parks and schools and other community facilities and spaces.

Nationally, over 1.6 million hours of community work was provided by over 20,000 offenders last year.