THE CELIA LASHLIE DAY
HONOURING HER LIFE,
WORK AND VALUES
Thursday, 25th February 2016 - 8.30am – 4.30pm
Lecture Theatre One, Old Government Buildings
Lambton Quay, Wellington
SPONSORED BY:
PURPOSE OF THE DAY
A day of celebration, of challenge, of forward thinking and
an acknowledgement of Celia’s lifework.
CELIA’S MISSION
To bring about societal change through working with women
and particularly the lives being led by women at the heart of
at-risk families.
VALUES
The Magic in Every Child:
By realising the magic and potential inside every child, we
can shape the future.
Honesty and Credibility:
Wisdom based on what we know from active experience.
Moral Courage:
Saying what needs to be said and speaking up for those who
can’t.
Social Well-being and Awareness:
Connecting people and communities brings greater cohesion
and understanding.
Social Justice/Responsibility:
Our communities hold the power to solve our problems.
8:30am
Mihi Whakatau: Karakia
Kim Workman
‘Reflections’
Amanda Millar
An on-screen presentation of Celia’s views and insights from a
16 –year history of interviews with journalist and friend, Amanda
Millar. This will feature excerpts from Celia’s final interview
recorded three days before her death and will now form the basis
of a proposed documentary.
8.55am Outline of the day
Jennifer Leahy – MC
SESSION ONE: CES’s SOUL WORK
9.00am
9.20am
Empowering the Women
Setting the Scene Celia’s daughter Rebekah Henderson talks about her mother’s
work that she’s now continuing with Celia Lashlie Projects. Of
special interest to Rebekah, is to realise Celia’s long-held dream to
establish a support centre for vulnerable women that’s modelled
on a Sydney house called, Lou’s Place.
The Whakakotahitanga Programme
Rebekah Henderson
Gabe Quirke
Pappy Robinson
Gabe Quirke is the Domestic Violence Coordinator and Pappy
Robinson is the Assistant Coordinator for the Ruapehu Police
District, who both run a family violence ‘rehab’ camp. Celia
worked with Gabe and her team for the last 10 years hosting 60
camps for couples affected by violence. The camp has had more
than a 70 per cent success rate in reducing abuse with the couples
and continues today.
9.50am
Manurewa High School and Celia
Salvatore Gargiulo
Celia was a very strong supporter and friend of the largest
multicultural school in the country. Her work with staff, parents,
and students over the last four years of her life was inspirational to
many.
The principal, Salvatore Gargiulo, talks about Celia’s impact on
the students and their work together on the ‘Good Man Project’.
Celia’s conversations with pupils from 25 boys schools in New
Zealand resulted in her best-selling book, “He’ll be OK: Growing
Gorgeous Boys into Good Men” and subsequently led to her
becoming an international speaker on the subject of teenage boys.
10.20am
Morning tea SESSION TWO: SHARING THE VISION
10.50am
11.20am
Women in Prison:
Agents for Transformational Change? Dr Tracey McIntosh
Dr Tracey McIntosh is the Co-Director of Nga- Pae o te
Ma-ramatanga (New Zealand’s Ma-ori Centre of Research
Excellence) and an Associate Professor of Sociology at the
University of Auckland. Tracey also provides education support
and teaches creative writing at Auckland Region Women’s
Correction Facility. She shares her insight into the lives of
imprisoned women through their writing, and considers their
potential as agents for transformative change.
The Invisible Sentence:
Supporting Families and Children of Prisoners Dr Liz Gordon
Between 2009 and 2011, former politician and researcher, Dr
Liz Gordon, conducted research into the children of prisoners,
on behalf of the PILLARS Trust. She produced two significant
reports, and shares her insights with the seminar.
11.50am
CHAIR: Amanda Millar
Feedback and Discussion on the morning’s presentations.
12.00pm
Lunch - Law Common Room,
Government Buildings
1.00pm
Insight through the Arts
Jacqui Moyes
Jacqui Moyes is the Arts in Corrections Adviser for Arts Access
Aotearoa. She conducts workshops on critical issues with female
prisoners at Arohata Prison through the media of the arts. She
shares her experience and insights.
PANEL DISCUSSION:
1.30pm
Family Violence, Maori Women, Incarceration, Historical Trauma
and Healing
Panel: Dr Donna Swift, Dr Lily George and Nayda Te Rangi.
Chair: Dr Cherryl Smith
Dr Donna Swift - Girls’ use of violence and anti-social behaviour.
Donna is the Principal Researcher for The Girls’ Project: An
investigation of girls use of violence and anti-social behaviour,
and The Girls’ of Concern Study. She describes her current work
and research, around girls’ involvement in intergenerational
family violence, the links between early onset of puberty and girl
bullying, and teenage girls’ responses to social pressures.
Dr Lily George - Te Piringa Poho
Dr Lily George draws on research with Ma-ori women with
backgrounds of trauma and abuse who have gone on to be
incarcerated. This is a common theme for women who end up
in jails or in the criminal justice system. She talks of the need for
effective reintegration programmes to be trauma-informed and
culturally appropriate in order to speak to the hearts and spirits of
the women.
Nayda Te Rangi - The Healing Journey
Nayda Te Rangi has worked with whanau for many years who are
gang affiliated and who have been in prison. Her own life journey
is described in the book ‘Trust: The story of women involved with
Gangs’. She has extensive experience with the challenges faced by
wha-nau who are attempting to ‘reintegrate’ following release from
prison.
She will talk about her involvement in research with Ma-ori men
and women released from prison in the Rangitikei and her own
journey to wellbeing and recovery.
Feedback and Discussion on the afternoon’s presentations.
3.00pm
Afternoon Tea
SESSION THREE:
REASONS TO CONTINUE THE WORK?
3.30pm
The Power of Redemption
Jackie Katounas is a former prisoner, who will share her
experiences and her journey following release and the subsequent
challenges she faces in society.
4.10pm
Reflections on the Day: What Comes Next?
Chair: Jacinda Adern MP
4.30pm
Celia’s Song
Jackie Katounas
Naia Alkouri (12)
Fintan Spencer (13)
Caterina Moreno (12)
Luka Alkouri (9)
Twelve year-old Naia Alkouri with her band, CaFI-LuNA close
the seminar performing her own composition, in honour of Celia.
This song was commissioned for the unveiling ceremony of the
Celia Lashlie portrait at the NZ Portrait Gallery in Wellington, last
December.
Refreshments and an opportunity to talk and
network will follow. Law Common Room, Old
Government Buildings
Special thanks to Celia’s close friend and artist Heather Main for the use of her Celia ‘icons’ that form
part of the commissioned portrait at the NZ Portrait Gallery. http://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/
portraits-online/recent-acquisitions/celia-lashlie
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Kim Workman
Kim Workman (Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitaane) is the 2015 J.D. Stout Fellow, at
the Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington. He is nationally known for his
work on criminal justice, corrections policy and Ma-ori development. He has been an outspoken
advocate for justice reform and worked in a number of government agencies. He was involved
in establishing Rethinking Crime and Punishment, and Justspeak, a young people’s forum for
Justice reform.
Amanda Millar
Amanda Millar has had more than 30 years in TV journalism. She is one of New Zealands most
experienced and awarded investigative reporters who has been at the centre of breaking stories;
many have dealt with major social and political issues. She’s been a presenter and producer of
current affairs programmes and many documentaries. She has received 17 national awards for
her journalism, including being awarded TV Current Affairs Reporter, three times in a decade.
Amanda did several stories with Celia Lashlie before they teamed up in 2010 to work on various
projects including a proposed documentary series.
Jennifer Leahy
Jennifer Leahy is an educator who has worked for the past 30 years teaching in the Christchurch
prisons, the College of Education, and University of Canterbury and is currently at CPIT. She
had the privilege of working with Celia at Christchurch Women’s Prison where they became
close friends. Jennifer has a passion for community education. She is writing her PhD on women
in adult education as well as taking workshops for a variety of organisations. Recently, she
facilitated the workshop “The Invisible Sentence: Supporting Families and Children of Prisoners”
for PILLARS.
Rebekah Henderson
Rebekah Henderson (Beks) is Celia’s daughter and mother to Ted, Fergus and Ruby. She was
working closely with Celia right up until mother’s death. Since then, Beks has been at the core of
the Celia Lashlie Projects team, working to continue her mum’s legacy. In particular, she oversaw
the publication and launch of the 10th year anniversary edition of Celia’s bestselling book, “He’ll
Be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men”. Beks is determined to fulfil her mother’s dream
of establishing ‘Ces’ Place’. This was based on a Sydney model, called Lou’s Place that offers,
training, food, friendship and support for vulnerable women.
Gabe Quirke
Gabe Quirke is the Police Family Violence Coordinator for the Ruapehu Police area.
She is also an old friend of Celia’s as they lived next door to each other from the age of three.
Together, they developed a national first in setting up domestic violence ‘rehab’ camps. This was
in response to the area having one of the highest rates of domestic abuse in the country.
The programme, Whakakotahitanga has now delivered more than 60 camps over 10 years
and has reduced domestic violence by 70 per cent. Gabe believes that the camps’ success was
significantly due to Celia’s no-holds barred, straight-up approach. The camps are continuing
today, strengthened by a team of committed facilitators who are carrying on changing lives.
Salvatore Gargiulo
Salvatore (Salvi) Gargiulo is currently the principal of Manurewa High School, the largest
secondary school in the country. Celia Lashlie had been working at the school on various projects
after they had met while Salvi was principal at Nelson Boys College. Together, they set up, ‘The
Good Man Project’ in 2004. Celia then took the project to 25 boys schools in New Zealand. Salvi
has also been involved in developing future and present educational leaders across New Zealand
through his pariticpation in a large number of educational conferences and publications. He has
presented on varied topics including gifted and talented education, professional assessment,
investigative teaching and working with boys.
Dr Tracey McIntosh
Tracey McIntosh (Ngai Tuhoe) is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of
Auckland.She is the Co- Director of Nga- Pae o te Ma-ramatanga New Zealand’s Ma-ori Centre
of Research Excellence (CoRE). In 2012 she was the co-chair of the Children’s Commissioner’s
Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty. She sits on a number of governance boards
particularly in the area of social harm reduction. Tracey is the current joint editor of AlterNative:
An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples alongside Professor Michael Walker. Her recent
research focuses on incarceration (particularly of indigenous peoples and Ma-ori women),
inequality, poverty and justice.
Dr Liz Gordon
Liz Gordon began her academic career at Massey University, and moved to the University of
Canterbury in 1990, where she taught and researched in the field of educational policy. In 1996
she was elected as a Member of Parliament, a position she held for six years. Since 2002 she
has managed two research companies, Network Research and Pu-keko Research Ltd. Pu-keko
Research specialises in research across the education, justice and social policy spectrum, with a
focus on social inequality and disadvantage. In education, Liz has worked recently in the field of
assessment policy, restorative practices, tertiary education, youth training and inequality.
Jacqui Moyes
Jacqui Moyes is the Arts in Corrections advisor for Arts Access Aotearoa, and provides an
advisory service to the Department of Corrections and the wider community. Her previous roles
include; censor for the Office of Film and Literature, family and child mentoring service for social
services, events co-ordinator and a history in community theatre. After completing a B.A degree
from Victoria University (Wellington, NZ) majoring in Education and Gender Studies, Jacqui
worked as a contractor delivering arts programming in Corrections facilities.
Donna Swift
Social anthropologist, Dr. Donna Swift, is the principal researcher for The Girls’ Project: An
investigation of girls’ use of violence and anti-social behavior, and The Girls of Concern Study. In
2014, she received the Sonja Davies Peace Award and her work became the National 2011-2013
Project for Soroptimist International of New Zealand. She presents throughout New Zealand and
Australia, as well as in Canada, Hong Kong and the United States and is a Principal Academic
Staff Member on the Bachelor of Social Work at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New
Zealand. She currently facilitates training workshops for schools, communities and professionals
working with girls. Her current work includes girls’ involvement in the intergenerational
transmission of family violence, the links between early onset of puberty and girl bullying, and
teenage girls responses to social pressures.
Dr Lily George
Dr Lily George (Nga-puhi, Nga-ti Hine, Nga-tiwai) is senior research officer at Massey University
(Albany). Her focus is working as MAI Doctoral Coordinator in Ma-ori community research
development with current projects on Ma-ori youth suicide, as well extending her postdoctoral
research with a community reintegration project for Ma-ori women.
Nayda Te Rangi
Nayda Te Rangi has a history of gang and prison involvement and is now a whanau ora
worker in the Rangitikei. She was involved in the Book Trust, which tells the stories of women
in gangs who form a trust. She has not had an easy life but is a great testimony that despite
the challenges women can recover and succeed.
Jackie Katounas
Jackie Katounas knows prison from the inside out. Her career in crime was triggered at 12 by
her father’s suicide. By 16, she was in Auckland Maximum Security Prison. She then spent the
next 20 years in and out of Australian prisons. She was also addicted to heroin for 12 years. Her
138 convictions include drug dealing, armed robbery, and fraud. Jackie is a founding member of
Hawkes Bay Restorative Justice where she worked as a facilitator - piloting the first RJ services
into the country’s prisons. She then went on to manage Restorative Justice Services for Prison
Fellowship NZ for eight years. Today, she continues to work with those offenders in prison who
express a desire to meet with their victims, and seek reconciliation through her work for Edmond
Rice Justice.
Naia Alhouri with CaFI-LuNa
Naia Alhouri is a 12 year-old musician and composer who performs her own song dedicated to
Celia Lashlie. She is backed by her band, Fintan Spencer (13) on piano, Caterina Moreno (12)
guitar, Luka Alhouri (9) on trombone. They are assisted by Michel Alhouri on bass. Naia who has
composed several songs, met Celia several times through Heather Main, the artist commissioned
to paint Celia posthumously for the NZ Portrait Gallery. ‘Celia’s Song’ was written especially for
the portrait’s unveiling in December last year.