Author of case study: Marcela Torres Molano

Geopolitical location of space:
555 W Coast Rd, Templeton
Christchurch, New Zealand

Extant? Yes

Architect:
The last maintenance reform (2011) was done by the Naylor Love Canterbury construction company.

Background information:

Christchurch Men’s Prison is a detention centre for men located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The prison has been the space of restorative justice encounters between victims and perpetrators of crimes such as murder. These encounters happen when parole is being considered for a perpetrator.

Is restorative and/or transitional justice actually taking place in this space?

Yes, encounters between victims and imprisoned perpetrators take place in the building.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

No. The spaces used for the encounters are within the prison and have not been designed specifically for safe listening.

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

The intended participants are crime victims and imprisoned perpetrators.

How or to what extent is this space public?

Christchurch Men’s Prison is the property of the Department of Corrections of New Zealand.

Physical/factual description of space:

Christchurch Men’s Prison, also known as Paparua, is situated 18 kilometres from the centre of Christchurch, occupying 1,000 acres of a farming site. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest and largest minimum to high security prisons, and it  accommodates nearly 1,000 male prisoners. The site opened in 1915, while the two original buildings were completed in 1925. In 1972, a third wing was constructed; these three units are fully operational. The Paparua prison is four times the size it was in the early 20th century, that includes the prison pig farm.

The two original structures are concrete rectangular buildings with external cells along the two long exterior walls. They lack natural light and have an archaic atmosphere. One of these structures  is a high-security voluntary segregation unit. The roads are grey, the buildings are grey and the wires are grey, except for the artwork made by the inmates since 2015.  The Leimon Villas, established in 2000, are four house-like units that accommodate low-security prisoners in an apartment type space, to teach the men independent living skills by letting them organise their own cooking, cleaning, and weekly food budgets.

“Paparua is a good example of a prison responding to the social conditions of the day,  it shows  the rural ethic of New Zealand, that provides therapeutic benefits of outdoor work” (Symon, 2012).

Analytical description of space:

Restorative justice in New Zealand is a process that intends to repair the damage done to  victims of crimes, through a carefully mediated meeting between victims and offenders. During the meetings victims have the opportunity to communicate directly with the person responsible of the offence. In the restorative justice “conference,” the victim has the opportunity to tell the offender how they have been affected by the crime, ask questions and discuss if and how the harm can be repaired.

The restorative justice system has an important place in Paparua Prison in Christchurch. “For some offenders there is a real hope of rehabilitation if they can work with the restorative process which gives crime victims a voice” (BBC).