PĀNUI
NEWS
Service Overview: Out Of Gate.
22 / 07 / 2025
At He Waka Tapu, the Out of Gate team plays a vital role in supporting tāne and wāhine transitioning from prison back into the community. Coordinating across all three Christchurch-based prisons, the team provides practical and emotional support for people navigating one of the most challenging periods in their lives - reintegration.
Helping whānau rebuild after prison, one connection at a time.
We sat down with Out of Gate Service Coordinator Nikki and Whānau Kaimahi Lynda to get a glimpse of the mahi behind the scenes, the challenges whānau face on release, and what keeps the team motivated through the complexities of their work.
The landscape of reintegration is constantly shifting and right now, the picture is tough. Nikki says the past 12 to 18 months have been particularly challenging, with noticeable increases in homelessness, mental health struggles, and substance dependency.
“We’re seeing really high complexities,” she says. “Whānau are coming out with nowhere to go, no ID, no income, and often no support. And with the rise in mental health and addiction issues, that creates added pressure on already stretched services.”
“It’s not about ticking boxes,” says Nikki. “It’s about being someone they can call, someone who shows up. And when you’ve got nothing else, that can mean everything.”
Navigating The System.
Emergency housing options have tightened, making it even harder for those trying to stay on track. “If you’re a single male with no kids, your chances of getting emergency accommodation are slim. Even wāhine with tamariki are finding it harder now,” Nikki explains.
Part of the team’s role involves release support, meeting whānau at the gates on their scheduled release date and guiding them through their first steps back in the community.
“When we pick them up from prison, a lot of the time they’ll want to stop at the dairy, grab a can of Coke and have that first cigarette, it’s just something small that gives them a moment to gather themselves, it prepares them to navigate their steps” Nikki says. “Then it’s straight into action: heading to MSD, organising ID, buying groceries or clothing, and hopefully helping them settle into accommodation if it’s available.”
"New sentencing reforms are projected to add about 1,350 more people to the prison population, with resulting imprisonment rates potentially rising to 238–263 per 100,000 by 2035, surpassing even countries like Iran (228 per 100,000). "
- University of Canterbury Senior Lecturer Linda Mussell.
“We're lucky if 25% walk out into stable housing,” Nikki says. “Many are relying on their whānau, mum, a brother, whoever’s willing, or they’re heading to places like boarding houses or the City Mission.”
Despite the challenges, both Nikki and Lynda agree that the real heart of their mahi is connection. Whether it's a scheduled check-in or someone dropping by months after release, staying engaged with whaiora makes all the difference.
Lynda, who also co-facilitates our men’s stopping violence open group on Monday nights, has seen firsthand how whānau use the space as a lifeline, sometimes even before they find themselves in crisis.
“Some of our tāne come in just because they know they’re not feeling right. They want to learn tools to handle things differently,” she says. “And a lot of them keep coming back. This is a safe place they can come to stay connected.”
That ongoing access is key. “The open groups give them choice, not obligation,” Lynda adds. “And that makes a massive difference.”
At the end of the day, the Out of Gate team are more than navigators, they’re connectors, advocates, listeners, and sometimes just that one stable presence in a world full of uncertainty.
“It’s not about ticking boxes,” says Nikki. “It’s about being someone they can call, someone who shows up. And when you’ve got nothing else, that can mean everything.”
