The New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform
Lowering prison population, reducing reoffending, and helping people get back on their feet.
What we do
Research, literacy support, skills training, and driver licensing support that make rehabilitation real.
NZHL works to reduce the prison population, reduce reoffending, and support positive reintegration into communities without compromising community safety.
Driving Programme
Driver licences can be a pathway to employment, ID, independence and safer legal driving.
The Driving Programme helps people involved in the justice system move away from pathways into prison and toward work, family responsibilities and community stability.
Support may include learner preparation, literacy help, driving lessons, test costs, ID support and access to a legal vehicle for practical tests.
Volunteer Programmes
Volunteers help people build confidence, skills and reintegration pathways.
In prisons, volunteers support literacy and numeracy, ESOL, learner licence study, book clubs, book donations, CV workshops, Te Reo Māori learning, beekeeping and practical vocational learning where programmes are available.
The emphasis is steady, encouraging relationships that help people prepare for parole, employment and life beyond prison.
Impact Lab Chair
Sir Bill English
Impact Lab measures social programmes in terms of both positive benefits such as increased income and avoided costs to government.
Every $1 invested in the Howard League Driving Programme results in $5.60 returned to NZ.
Over $100m saved.
Driving Programme Report CardYou can help us create more opportunities
Donate to the New Zealand Howard league
Your donation supports literacy, driver licensing and reintegration programmes across Aotearoa.