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image of Dunedin landscape for PARS Otago - prisoner aid and rehabilitation services throughout Dunedin and Otago

Who We Are & What We Do

Welcome to PARS

The Prisoners’ Aid & Rehabilitation Society

PARS is one of New Zealand’s longest standing charities, founded in Dunedin in 1877. We are an incorporated society and registered charity.

We strive to provide support services that meet the reintegration needs of our clients, while also offering our staff a positive and challenging work environment.

PARS Otago exists to offer meaningful and effective reintegration support to people who are or have been in the criminal justice system – particularly men and women who have served an extended prison sentence.

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Vision Statement:

All released prisoners will be treated with respect and dignity, and provided with the same opportunities as others.

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Mission Statement:

PARS Otago works to reduce offending by providing support and reintegration services to offenders and their families.

We work to ensure all released offenders and their whanau in Otago are supported to reintegrate well.

Who We Help

Many of the people PARS help have a long back-story, with varying degrees of support, and varying personal circumstances.

Our clients frequently struggle to successfully reintegrate into their whanau and the larger community, after spending time in prison.

These struggles are often due to mental health issues, drug and alcohol use, post-traumatic stress disorder, and poor family circumstances.

How We Can Help You

This is where PARS comes in – we offer a support service to ex-prisoners so that they can successfully reintegrate into their community.

We can help with anything from

  • Accommodation
  • Training
  • IDs
  • Employment
  • Physical & Mental Wellbeing
  • & More

Our Values

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We engage respectfully and take care to uphold the dignity of others.

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Guardian, being responsible for. We work ethically and with integrity.

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We work to build positive and productive relationships with others.

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We respect the spiritual, physical and mental health of all people.

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Unity, a common purpose. We work as a team to achieve our mission.

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We uphold the dignity and self-esteem of others around us.

If You Want To Help Us You Can:

Volunteer

We are contracted to the Department of Corrections to provide reintegration support to clients referred to us by NZ social services.

Donate Money

Our clients have usually spent two or more years in prison and need support to re-join their community.

Donate Goods

You can donate good quality household items such as bedding for our clients to use.

Contact Us

Feel free to contact us and someone will get in touch with you to discuss your situation.