The approach must be considered in the background of New Zealand's geography and social-democratic tradition. The country has avoided extreme and chronic poverty and has fostered a relatively compassionate society where humanitarian policies are possible in its correctional system and elsewhere. The new correctional program involves providing greater professionalism within the system and an emphasis on the multicultural needs of inmates. The multicultural emphasis is important, because Maori consist of only 12 percent of the national population but 50 percent of the inmate population. The new program includes new job titles and job descriptions and unit management. In most institutions, the use of first names and nicknames between inmates and staff is common, even for official announcements. Although this program is still new and has high costs in wages and high-quality programs and facilities, it has already produced some extremely positive results. These include higher administrative efficiency; greatly decreased levels of internal disorder; a competent, stable work force; and inmates whose sense of self-worth and charity have not been destroyed by years of frustration, hatred, and fear. 15 references (Author abstract modified)