Prisoners at Mt Eden Correction Facility (MECF) have composed and will perform a haka dedicated to the 100th ANZAC commemorations today.
A special service will be held at Mt Eden prison where one unit has been chosen to attend, representing all the prisoners in MECF. As well as their own haka the men involved will perform a waiata and be flag bearers for the service.
The service will be held in the puna wānanga of the prison and will include staff, some of which are ex-servicemen and women as well as members of the RSA.
Those taking part in the ceremony are part of the Responsible Prisoner Model programme of MECF.
The organisation says the programme sets expectations around the way prisoners will behave, including being respectful in their relationships with staff, visitors and each other, and being treated respectfully in return.
According to MECF this is the only prison in New Zealand that holds a service including prisoners and this is the second year an event like this has been run. The Executive Cultural Advisor, Brad Roberts and Chaplain Amiria Te Whiu have been working closely with the men selected to attend the service.
Wepiha Te Kanawa will have more on this story tonight on Te Kāea at 5:30.