Welcome
The National Arts in Corrections Awards celebrate the people and practices that are shaping the future of rehabilitation through creativity and culture across Aotearoa. These awards recognise individuals whose leadership, innovation, and values-based mahi are making a lasting impact within prison and reintegration settings.
Facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa and guided by the principles of Hōkai Rangi and the values of the National Arts in Corrections Network, the awards highlight not only what people do, but how they do it – with manaakitanga, integrity, and a commitment to collective progress.
Award Categories
Māui Tikitiki a Taranga Award
This award recognises an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership, creativity, and innovation in the use of arts in Corrections. Named after Māui, a figure of transformation and bold action, it honours those who push boundaries, inspire others, and lead meaningful change at a national level.
Whai Tikanga Award
This award honours individuals or groups who use tikanga-based arts practice to foster identity, connection, and pro-social development. It celebrates those who centre kaupapa Māori approaches and uphold cultural integrity in their creative rehabilitation work.
Awards Rules
1. Anyone can submit a nomination.
2. Each person may make up to three nominations per award.
3. All nominations will be assessed by a judging panel established by Arts Access Aotearoa.
4. The panel will include people with lived experience of incarceration, allied academics, Corrections staff, and the Arts in Corrections Advisor.
5. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. Nominations close on 1 November 2025 at 11.59pm.
7. Judging will take place through to 1 December 2025.
8. Winners will be notified in the first week of December.
9. Winners will work with the Arts in Corrections Advisor and their local site to host an Awards Giving Ceremony between 1 February 2026 and 30 May 2026.
Awards Giving Ceremony
Between November 2025 and May 2026, the Arts in Corrections Advisor will support each winner’s local Corrections site to plan and hold an Awards Giving Ceremony. The Advisor will personally attend to present the award.
The ceremony ideally includes site mana whenua, local dignitaries, programme participants, and stakeholders, who are invited to acknowledge the winner and celebrate the positive mahi happening at the site. Where possible, artworks, cultural performances, or displays from the site may be included to enhance the mana of the event.
Each ceremony will be tailored to the needs and schedule of the site, with a six-month planning window (if needed) to ensure it aligns with safety, staffing, and operational priorities.
About This Form
This form allows you to nominate:
A. One person for either award
B. One person for both awards
If you wish to make another nomination, please complete and submit this one, then close the browser window entirely. Reopen the original survey link to begin a new nomination.
If you encounter any difficulty, please contact:
neil.wallace@artsaccess.org.nz
