Tanekaha unit 

Tanekaha is a 10 bed minimum secure unit at the rehabilitation end of the the Mason Clinic.

Tanekaha caters for mentally disabled offenders with a range of medical diagnoses, from different cultures, gender and age groups. It offers long term rehabilitation to patients who are considered suitable for slow transition back to the community, as they would be unable to cope with the psychological requirements of a more active stream of rehabilitation. And for other patients, whose risk issues remain dynamic, Tanekaha is seen as offering an opportunity to live to their potential within the legal constraints they face.

The challenge for Tanekaha is to maximise the development of personal responsibility and autonomy of patients encompassing their specific cultural identity, rights and issues at the same time addressing and reducing their level of risk behaviour.


Tanekaha provision of forensic nursing care 
The unit environment emphasises meaningful occupation of time for patients in such a way to maximise the quality of life of those patients who live within it – whether that be in occupational, recreational, social or cultural pursuits.

Within an understandably restricted environment nurses individualise their nursing management according to their expertise and experience.

The ongoing challenge facing nursing in this setting is achieving consistency of care in approach and consensus due to rotating staff and rostered duties.

Each patient has an allocated keyworker (a registered nurse) and a group of nurses and psychiatric assistants who work with the patient.

An integral component of forensic nursing care is the demonstration of advanced skills in risk assessment and risk management. The broader the holistic approach taken, the more likely the accuracy of the assessment.

Nursing management plans are developed by the senior registered nurse within the group of nurses allocated to a patient, which is then reviewed and discussed with the associate nurses to ensure consistency of care and implementation of the plan.

Every six months an in-depth review is conducted to review the patient’s management care to date and make relevant alterations required for the next six months.

Tanekaha receives referrals from other units within the Mason Clinic, which are generally processed through the Rehabilitation Action Group (RAG).  RAG is a multidisciplinary team that oversees the rehabilitation units in the Mason Clinic. 

Patients may spend anywhere from a few months to many years as a resident in Tanekaha Unit. Pathways out of Tanekaha include referral to more active streams of rehabilitation such as Kahikatea Unit and/or Rimu Hostel. It may also be a referral back to a community placement or revert to a more secure unit should a higher level of security be indicated.

Kahikatea Unit

Kahikatea is a minimum secure rehabilitation unit that accommodates up to 20 patients, 16 men and 4 women.

Mission statement: To provide a rehabilitation process that promotes recovery and a safe and structured environment which minimises risk in relation to a mental illness.

Koorero Whakatakatanga: Ki te whakarato he mahi whakaoranga inoa whakarangatira hauroa me he takiwa au hanganga ranei hei whakahekea wetiweti e paa ana ki he mauiui.

Kahikatea is focussed on supporting the changes that people have to make in coming to terms with the impact of their mental illness and developing insight and skills in re-establishing their lives back into the community. The primary focus is on helping the re-integration back with families, and in developing life skills for when they return to their lives out of hospital.