the name gifted to men in the navigate initiative unit
In 2018, the Navigate Initiative was officially launched as a JV partnership between Pathway and Ara Poutama (the Dept of Corrections).
It represented the culmination of our reintegration work since 1998. That work centred around providing common-sense supports such as jobs, accommodation and mentoring for men re-entering the community from prison.
Independent research had shown the Pathway approach to have been very effective at reducing recidivism, with participants 43% less likely to return to prison than simply going it alone upon release.
Now there was to be an added dimension. The reintegration work would begin earlier, inside-the-wire, in the last third of a person’s sentence. It would be delivered in two stages:
Relationships forged inside-the-wire between Tū Ora and Pathway staff could continue on the outside, and be a big help.
It was hoped that this pilot called Navigate Initiative could make a difference in the lives of the Tū Ora it served, but also that it might lead to a fresh approach in addressing NZ’s very high recidivism rate - 57% returning to prison within 2 years of release.
Navigate Initiative is a joint venture partnership between Corrections and Pathway. It is not a government contract and receives no government funding.
Instead, both parties contribute resources in an effort to ensure its continued success. Ara Poutama provides the 20-bed unit and physical programme space, along with custodial staff. Pathway provides its reintegration services and staff, both inside and outside the wire, and fully covers that cost.
Pathway also mobilises a large number of community volunteers that help deliver programmes both inside and outside the wire. These volunteers are people who care deeply about addressing the problem of recidivism and generously donate their time and resources.
It costs Pathway about $500,000 each year to deliver its services to the Navigate Initiative partnership.
These funds come via the generosity of our community of Impact Investors. These are people or organisations who pledge an annual “impact investment” to the Navigate Initiative because they believe in the programme and want to see it succeed.
Individuals typically donate $1,000 annually over multiple years, and businesses sign up as Corporate Impact Investors for $5,000 per annum. In addition, some larger donors make one-off or multi-year grants.
Underwriting all of this is Pathway’s own business, Alloyfold, which as a cornerstone investor, contributes $50,000 per annum and also makes up any shortfall.
In truth, the Community (our investors and volunteers), could be seen as a third joint venture partner in the Navigate Initiative, underpinning Pathway and Corrections by providing financial and volunteer support.
The Navigate Initiative would simply not be possible without them.
Each year in NZ 15,000 kiwis are released from prison into communities up and down the country. Our programme aims to better prepare them for a crime-free lifestyle outside of prison.
Inside the wire we focus on preparation for life in the community. A range of skills are taught. These might be practical skills like budgeting, carving, cooking, barista training, finding a job or how to buy groceries in the modern world. Or more ethereal activities like cultural development, restorative justice, creative writing or music.
In the community we focus on providing practical support designed to help Tū Ora break the cycle of crime and reimprisonment. We will assist with things like finding meaningful employment, getting stable accommodation, developing prosocial networks, banking and ID, addiction groups and reconnecting with whānau.
The Navigate Initiative exists to help people make a fresh start.
Pathway wishes to acknowledge every supporter, past and present, enabling us to change lives and create fresh starts.
Anaru Baynes
2023
Andrew Farrow
2018
Caroline Ansley
2018
Darfield Baptist Church
2018
Grant Read
2016
Ilam Baptist Church
2017
Jane and Rory Jones
2019
Jay Erickson
2018
Krissy and Mark Christensen
2018
Linwood Woolston Rotary Club
2021
Lisa and Dakota Mead
2021
Randal and Hillary Jordan
2019
Ray Ingle
2018
Riccarton Community Church
2023
Roberta George
2019
Rodger Vickers
2020
Russel and Joy Broughton
2019
St Pauls Anglican (Tai Tapu)
2017
Westchurch
2018
It’s thanks to our incredible long-term investors that have enabled us to run the Navigate Initiative independently, to turn lives around and make the community a stronger and safer place for everyone.
A recent evaluation of the initiative carried out by Independent Research Solutions shows our Tū Ora are embracing the programme on a level not seen in traditional reintegration settings, with the numbers to back it up.
Navigate Initiative participants were 47.7% less likely to be resentenced and 50% less likely to be re-imprisoned than a control group. Dr Jarrod Gilbert and his team conducted the analysis using a matched sample of 195 comparable individuals from Christchurch Men's Prison, selected based on demographics, offending history, and programme completion, and comparing their 12-month recidivism rates.
Evaluations such as this paint a picture of what everyone involved is getting out of the NI, its effectiveness and what we can do to make it even better. It’s encouraging to see the potential the NI has in making our community a stronger and safer place for all, as we continue to help people make a fresh start.
“Having Pathway be so well connected into the community across an enormous range of stakeholders has also given us a pathway into those organisations. It’s broadened our horizons about the people in the community that actually care about the men in our custody and helped us to realise that corrections alone can’t solve the problem of incarceration.”
