Our mission is to honour local and international voices from industry, academia and community to illuminate the causes and control of violence in New Zealand's prison spaces.
To find out about our events, email saferprisons@waikato.ac.nz and ask to be added to our mailing list.
View the proceedings from our previous symposia below.
Symposia Information
Join us for Nga Tūmanakotanga's sixth online symposium.
Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa VI
Date: Monday, 24th November 2025
Time: 8.45am to 3.15pm
Venue: Online (link to be emailed to registrants - register via the link below)
Registration: Eventbrite
Public event – all welcome! Recommended for an audience of 18 years+
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2025 SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME |
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8.45am - 9.00am |
Mihi Armon Tamatea |
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9.00am - 9.45am |
Opening Address Leigh Marsh – Commissioner Custodial Services, Ara Poutama Department of Corrections |
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9.45am - 10.30am |
Presentation One Ben Clark – Director Pae Ora, Ara Poutama Department of Corrections |
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10.30am – 10.45am |
Morning tea break |
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10.45am – 11.30am
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General Manager Panel Joanne Harrex, Scott Walker, Jim Watson and Tayla Yandall – General Managers, Ara Poutama Department of Corrections |
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11.30am – 12.15pm |
Presentation Two Joseph Tupou – University of Waikato student |
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12.15pm - 1.15pm |
Lunch break |
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1.15pm - 2.00pm |
Improving outcomes for people in prison: The importance, benefits and challenges of providing choice Prof Michael Daffern – Director of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia |
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2.00pm - 2.45pm |
Presentation Four TBA |
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2.45pm – 3.00pm |
Closing Address Prof Ian Lambie – Chief Science Advisor Justice Sector, New Zealand Government |
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3.00pm - 3.15pm |
Whakakapinga Armon Tamatea |
*Programme is subject to change
Contact saferprisons@waikato.ac.nz for any questions.
Our 2024 symposium, 'Ko Tū Koe? Ko Rongo Koe?' Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa V, was held on 25th November, 2024. Yet another successful full day event, with over 400 attendees. Our ten featured presenters were -
- Professor Nancy Rodriguez
- Alicia Clifford
- Chantel Huel
- Scott Walker
- Kim Smith
- Kym Grierson
- Jacky Howcutt
- Renee Clarkson
- Dr Katherine McLachlan
- Paula Ormsby
with an opening address from Hon Mark Mitchell.
PDF of the full 2024 proceedings 'Ko Tū Koe? Ko Rongo Koe?' Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa V
Our 2023 symposium, Te Pakari: Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa IV, was held on 27th November, 2023. This was another successful full day event, with over 300 attendees. Our eight featured presenters were -
- David Cooke
- Kris Gledhill
- Samantha Taaka
- Paul Dennehy
- Mate Webb and Vikki Demant
- Denis O'Reilly
with an opening address from Jeremy Lightfoot.
PDF of the full 2023 proceedings: Te Pakari Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa IV.
Our 2022 symposium, Te Taipitopito: Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa III, was held on 28th November, 2022. This was a successful full day event, with over 400 registered attendees and 10 speakers. The speakers were:
- Lorraine Johnstone
- Nick J. Wilson
- Nicola Brennan-Tupara
- Abi Clarke
- Liam Membery
- Abby Rhodes
- Robert Henry
- Harry Tam
- Jennifer Galouzis
- Damian White
with an opening address from Peter Boshier.
PDF of the full 2022 proceedings: Te Taipitopito: Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa III.
Our 2021 symposium, Te Whanake: Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa II, was held on 7th December, 2021. This was another successful full day event, featuring 10 speakers:
- Neil Campbell
- Sofie Østergaard Jaspers
- Lars Brabyn and Randy Grace
- Emma Roebuck
- Brad Peebles
- Armon Tamatea
- Edward ‘Timo’ Gardiner, Karl Goldsbury and Colin ‘Baldy’ Kiriona
with an opening address from Hon. Kelvin Davis.
PDF of the full 2021 proceedings: Te Whanake: Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa II.
Our inaugural symposium, Te Tūāpapa Whakaharatau Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa, was held on 7th December, 2020. Our first full day event was a huge success and featured 10 speakers:
- Tā Kim Workman
- Neil Beales
- Janis Adair
- Beven Hanlon
- Arrin Clark
- Rue Jade Morgan
- Devon Polaschek, Michael Daffern, Andrew Day with Armon Tamatea
PDF of the full 2020 proceedings: Te Tūāpapa Whakaharatau Understanding Prison Violence in Aotearoa.