News the Department of Corrections and Horticulture NZ will be partnering in the Bay of Plenty to help turn offenders' lives around is being welcomed.

Following the successful first year of a pilot programme in Hawke's Bay that was established to help ex-prisoners and community-based offenders find sustainable employment in the horticulture industry, Corrections and Horticulture New Zealand are now looking to expand the initiative into the Bay of Plenty.

The agreement supports training packages that help prisoners become work-ready for employers and offer permanent career opportunities in horticulture to prisoners once released.

'A life working on the vine has far better outcomes than a life of crime. This is true for the individual, their families, our community and our economy,” says Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller.

'It allows prisoners to leave prison with meaningful skills and qualifications that enable them to contribute to our society in a meaningful way and see a future for themselves that doesn't involve criminal activity.”

Todd says it also provides the industry with trained and qualified employees that will help fill continued labour shortages which will in turn benefit the community.

'This is a win-win situation for all involved.

'I appreciate not everyone will be thrilled to see these offenders offered a second chance, but from my perspective we cannot simply write them off as a loss to society.

'This is about rehabilitation, showing them the value of an honest day's wage for an honest day's work, and letting them see that they are capable of contributing to our society in a positive way.”