South Island Youth Justice Facility Te Puna Wai's new incentive has young offenders learning practical skills through farming.
The facility has been developing a small farm over the last few years.
The hope behind it is that it offers youths a chance to turn their back on crime and prepare for future employment opportunities through hands-on work.
Te Puna Wai youth justice facility offers hands-on experience with goats, pigs, chickens, and horses. (Source: 1News)
Featuring Diesel, Mabel, and Pepe, the farm includes but is not limited to goats, pigs, chickens, and horses.
Members of the facility acknowledged its positive effects, one interviewed saying, "I like hanging out with animals, it clears my mind".
Agricultural tutor Barty Doak reaffirmed this sentiment, saying "when they come out, they sort of let their guard down, they get to be young people, get to be kids and have new experiences and be themselves".
"There's no judgment when we're out here, it doesn't even come into the equation, the animals aren't worried about why they're here".
Doak said this lack of judgment allowed the youths to focus on building life skills.
One 17-year-old —whose favourite animal is Diesel the goat— has been sentenced repeatedly for stealing cars and robberies.
Since starting at Te Puna Wai, the teen has enrolled in a trade course slated for after his release.
At any given time, Te Puna Wai can house up to 38 young people, 25 were present at the time 1News visited.
But residential manager Virginia Lavendar is keen to keep their outflowing numbers low — in a good way, "When someone leaves, we always say we mean it in the nicest way, but we don't want to see them again",
Lavendar said the farm gave young offenders "a real sense of accomplishment and pride" and hopes not to see the offenders through the facility again, as that means they've succeeded.
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