The Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Howard League is working to revitalise itself, after a difficult time during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The organisation, which works to reduce the prison population and reduce rates of recidivism, will hold its first annual general meeting in several years next Tuesday, October 10, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the Dunningham Suite, fourth floor, Dunedin Public Library.
Howard League Dunedin branch committee member Claire Brown said the local group had been led by the late highly-respected lawyer Len Anderson KC , who had been working to revive it. His death on September 16 had been a shock and had thrown things into disarray.
"However, we had arranged to have this annual meeting on October 10, and so we are going to go ahead with it. It is important that we do so," Mrs Brown said.
"We are really in the position of re-starting the organisation, so we are hoping to have a good turnout of people interested in supporting our objectives."
Guest speaker for next week’s annual meeting will be Lorraine Isaacs, who will talk about two years of a book club at the Otago Correctional Facility.
The programmes and objectives of the NZ Howard League are aimed at reducing the prison population, reducing recidivism rates, and helping former prisoners reintegrate into communities.
