French a hit with Rimutaka's captive market

Sacre bleu! Rimutaka Prison inmates have been getting French and Spanish language lessons to stop them from becoming bored and disruptive.

About 20 prisoners took part in the three-week lessons, which were included in a range of classes on offer, including money management, creative writing and letter-writing.

Art classes and sporting activities were also available.

The language classes targeted prisoners who were "too well educated" to take part in the prison's literacy programmes.

The Corrections Department has been criticised for wasting prison funds on the language classes, but the department said they motivated prisoners to learn.

"Motivating prisoners to make changes to their lives is critical in reducing reoffending," spokeswoman Liz Nielsen said of the classes that were run by two tutors already employed by the prison.

"These activities address idleness in prison, which is important because bored prisoners are far more likely to be disruptive and troublesome for our staff."

But lobby group Rethinking Crime and Punishment said the language classes were not the best use of prison funding.

"I wouldn't see it as a priority and I certainly wouldn't be putting my money there, but the more inmates who are occupied, the safer the prison is," director Kim Workman said.

But he was a "massive fan" of courses that enhanced inmates' employment chances after release.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said though he did not want to "completely bag" the idea, he thought there were more useful training courses that could be given to prisoners.

Corrections Minister Phil Goff backed any moves to boost prisoners' skills.

He said recent screening of inmates had indicated that a high proportion did not have basic literacy.

The 2003 census showed that 52 per cent of prisoners had no formal qualifications and only 45 per cent were in paid work before going into prison.

Though the language courses had proved popular, Corrections has not decided if they would be repeated.