Invercargill Prison Industries manager Barry Chapman said he had a crew of men who were using their detention time to build picnic tables and waka for community playgrounds.
Eight picnic tables had been built since the initiative started in September 2024.
Four wooden waka had also been made and the first one had been installed at Te Anau’s Henry St playground.
Waka and tables have also been installed in Wyndham, Tokanui and Fortrose playgrounds and tables at Wyndham, Athol and Riverton rest areas.
"Activities like these help the men gain skills and work ethic, which helps them towards gaining employment once they’re released from prison," Mr Chapman said.
"It also gives them a sense of purpose during their time in prison, and a sense of pride in giving back to the community."
Fiordland Community Board chairwoman Diane Holmes said the waka had been a part of the playground design that the Community Sporting Council looked at to get good value for money for ratepayers and Corrections had offered to undertake the work.
"It’s sort of a win-win — they get to do something productive and useful for the community and the community reaps the benefit by getting more economical play equipment."
Mr Chapman said men training in the horticulture unit donated 690 crates of vegetables and 741 native plants last year.
Kiwiharvest Invercargill manager Jennifer Stephens said her organisation had been collecting up to 30 crates of fresh seasonable vegetables from the prison twice a week for several years.
The food rescue organisation then distributed the produce to 36 different organisations for either food parcels or to be processed into community meals.
"We align with agencies that have good wraparound services" so those who needed food parcels received a "hand-up, not a handout", she said.
Mr Chapman said the men were looking at an additional community-focused project — processing fallen trees from October’s storm.
"The men will chop these trees into firewood as part of unit standards in chainsaw training. The firewood is then given back to the community for those in need.
"We’ll be continuing to give back to the community in 2026 and look forward to working with local council and community groups to do this," he said.
