Offenders who may not access to Christian radio stations will now do so with the donation of 60 solar-powered transistor radios-thanks to three Baptist Church groups in New Zealand.

Representatives of the Waikanae Baptist Church, Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church and the Capernwray Bible School led by group leader Steve Pound made the donation to the Prison Department on Wednesday, 09th at the Maximum Security Prison.

"One of the important cornerstone of the new direction and rehabilitation in the prisons service is the spiritual development of the inmates," says the Commissioner of Prisons Brigadier General Iowane Naivalurua who received the radios on behalf of the inmates and department. "We believe that for wholesome transformation and holistic changes with the inmates to be meaningful, their relationship with God is integral in our programme. We are encouraging the involvement of the church and other spiritual development activities. The radio will greatly assist in that direction."

The 60 transistors, to be distributed to the correctional institutions, would be especially welcomed by the inmates as they are solar-powered, saving them battery costs. The radios are programmed to pick up Christian radio signals only. They can pick up Radio Light and the Hindi Christian station Anand Jiwan.

The donation was secured with the assistance of Prison Fellowship Fiji who was represented by the director Jack Simpson at the ceremony. Representatives of the International Red Cross, Pacific Youth Ministry, SDA Prison Ministry and AGOFI Prison Ministry were also present.