Prisoners at Northland Regional Corrections Facility have been tasked with refurbishing well loved but worn out children's toys from Kerikeri's Toy Library.

Over 50 different products, including wooden ride-on toys, go-karts and doll's furniture, have been given to prisoners working in the carpentry and paint workshops at the prison to overhaul and give back to the library.

Corrections Inmate Employment Area Operations Manager Don Robertson says the prisoners are grateful for the challenge as it uses their capabilities and complements the qualifications they have trained for inside the wire.

"We train more than 100 men each year to various levels of national qualification in Building and Allied Trades, Automotive Engineering, Forestry, Horticulture and Painting through courses provided in partnership with Northtec. We find that once prisoners become involved in working and learning, they get a sense of ownership and pride. In turn, they're less likely to re-offend."

A group of prisoners who have graduated from carpentry training have already undertaken sanding work on the toys, and now another prisoner who has graduated from a pre-trade training course will begin painting them.

Louise from Kerikeri Toy Library says giving the toys to prisoners to work on is good both for the library as a charity and for the community's kids.

"Some of the toys are from as far back as the 1960s so they seriously need a going over. Many are beautiful and even hand-made, but they're broken and have been left out in the rain and that sort of thing. We're really looking forward to getting them back."

The library is leaving most of the decision-making about how to refurbish the toys up to the prisoners.

"Local businesses have donated paint for the prisoners to use and we are hoping they'll use a bit of creative license and see the work as an opportunity to grow themselves," Louise says.

It is expected the restored toys will be returned to the library next month.