Congratulations to William (Bill) Bean who has been awarded this year's Te Tohu Oranga Angitū | Lifetime Achievement Award at Te Hāpai Hapori | Spirit of Service Awards for his work with Department of Corrections | Ara Poutama Aotearoa.
For 46 years, Bill Bean has dedicated his life to empowering people in prison through practical skill-building, mentorship, and heartfelt compassion.
After 12 years of service in the Navy, Bill began his journey as a prison officer in 1979. He transitioned into the role of Acting Nursery Instructor at Auckland Prison, and for the past 27 years, he has led the prison’s horticulture programme.
Bill is guided by his belief that "people in prisons are not only nursery workers, growers, labourers, potential horticulturalists/agriculturalists; they are fathers, brothers, husbands, uncles, friends and part of a wider whānau. In helping them towards becoming rehabilitated, we are helping everyone their lives touch."
He has transformed a simple garden into a living classroom and a sanctuary for growth, both personal and botanical. Under his guidance, hundreds of participants have gained qualifications, work ethic, and the confidence to contribute positively to their whānau and communities.
Bill’s mahi has extended far beyond the prison gates through community partnerships, delivering vegetables to those in need.
Despite receiving national recognition for his work, Bill remains humble. He continues to model integrity, empathy, and resilience – values that shape both the garden and the people within it. It is his unwavering belief in redemption, his nurturing spirit, and his commitment to service that make the difference.
As Bill steps into a well-earned retirement, he leaves behind not just a thriving garden, but a legacy of hope.
