From Prison Officer to Memoir Author
Rhonda Hāpi-Smith spent 20 years working in New Zealand prisons, a path she initially resisted despite her family's background in corrections. In her thirties, after bouncing through unsatisfying jobs, she found herself drawn to the structure, purpose, and service that prison work provided.
Embracing a Challenging Career
Although she knew the job would change her, Rhonda agrees dedicating two decades to prison work was the right choice. She reflects from her Wellington home,
“I came out battered and worn, but I’d do it all again. There was something about the job that gave me a reason.”
Writing as an Outlet
Throughout her career, writing was Rhonda’s way to process her experiences. She consciously separated her identity at work—where she maintained a tough exterior to withstand verbal abuse and confrontations—from her life outside the prison walls.
Women in Men’s Prisons
Working as a woman in men’s prisons meant Rhonda had to work twice as hard to earn respect and demonstrate she was not someone to be underestimated.
Turning Experience into Literature
Rhonda transformed the often dangerous and intense moments from her career into her first book, Inside the Wire: True Stories from a New Zealand Prison Officer, sharing raw and honest accounts from behind bars.
Author’s summary: Rhonda Hāpi-Smith’s memoir reveals the resilience and purpose found in a tough two-decade career as a female prison officer in New Zealand.