Does PARS provide services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand?.

PARS services are all independent organisations that service their local community. Manawatu PARS covers more than one region, and includes Manawatu/Horowhenua (Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Otaki), Hawke’s Bay (Napier, Hastings and Havelock North) and Wellington (Wellington City, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt). We do not cover the Wairarapa region, there is no PARS service in that community.

Can PARS help me with funding to visit someone in prison?

PARS is a reintegration service rather than a funding agency, but we do have a few ways we can help with travel when visiting whānau in prison. If you live in Manawatū or Horowhenua, you can apply for support to visit someone in another prison. There is also a small fund available for people in Napier who are travelling to Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison. These funds offer a contribution toward travel costs, but they don’t cover accommodation or other expenses.

If you’re travelling with a child under 18, you may also be able to access support through the National Child Travel Fund. Click on this link for more information:

Child Travel Fund - Te Pā

Can you send me a list of support services you offer?

Every person’s journey is different, and so is the support we offer. We don’t use a one‑size‑fits‑all approach — we take the time to understand what you need. If you’re looking for help, reach out to us. Together, we can explore the support that will best strengthen your reintegration journey.

Do you offer Bail addresses?

No, we don’t offer bail addresses. We recommend people approach friends and family to secure a bail address. However, if you have been in prison and have been bailed, we can help you get things back on track.

Do you work with anyone in prison?

We work mostly with long servers, i.e. people who have been sentenced to two years or more. If someone has been sentenced to less than two years, or is on remand, an agency called Out of Gate is contracted to provide services to those people. Case Managers can make a referral to Out of Gate while someone is in prison, or Probation Officers can make a referral within two weeks of release.