May 3, 2018 New Zealand: alarming report uncovers several faults at Waikeria Prison News New Zealand A new report into conditions at Waikeria Prison has found several faults - including long lock-up times, understaffing and a lack of a fence. Each individual unit at the prison is fenced, but the overall site is not - which the report by the Office of the Inspectorate says makes security at the pri…
April 8, 2018 New Zeland: Dutch prison system offers inspiration to New Zealand News Justice Facilities New Zealand New Zealand’s prison population is skyrocketing, and our jails are at breaking point. The Netherlands has the opposite problem - they’re closing down prisons because inmate numbers have plummeted.
August 29, 2017 New Zealand: fewer women to be jailed under new government strategy to curb growth in crime News Women New Zealand Fewer women will be sent to prison under a new programme to try and curb growth in crime among Kiwi females.
June 16, 2017 New Zealand: corrections officers bashed in riot at Christchurch Men's Prison News New Zealand An inmate has admitted bashing prison officers during a riot at Christchurch Men’s Prison in November. Rawiri Graham Richardson, 26, was with a group of prisoners who allegedly attacked the officers after refusing to go back to their cells.
June 13, 2017 New Zealand: alcohol and drug court pilot gains an extension after early results News Drugs New Zealand A pilot of a special court that diverts offenders with alcohol and drug dependency from prison into treatment has been extended. Justice Minister Amy Adams said initial analysis showed the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court reduced the likelihood of reoffending by about 15 per cent in the short…
June 6, 2017 New Zealand: first look inside $300m Auckland Prison rebuild [video] News Facilities New Zealand Heart-beat detectors, security doors that unlock with a fingerprint scanner and a formidable five-layered fence are part of a complete $300m rebuild of Auckland Prison. The rebuild of New Zealand’s only men’s maximum security prison at Paremoremo is one of the area’s biggest infrastructure projects…
May 25, 2017 New Zealand's bulging prison population 'unprecedented' News New Zealand The growth of the prison population is “unprecedented” and “unanticipated”, according to the Budget released on Thursday by Finance Minister Steven Joyce.
May 15, 2017 New-Zealand: teens in youth prison allege abuse cover-up News Violence New Zealand Teenage boys at a youth prison told visiting watchdogs how staff hit them “on the body where it won’t mark” during fight clubs held away from CCTV cameras.
May 15, 2017 New-Zealand: youth residences violent, bleak and prison-like News Violence New Zealand A report into youth residences has uncovered allegations of regular bullying, fight clubs and a “determination” to stay quiet about serious violence and abuse.
April 27, 2017 New Zealand's use of seclusion in prison lambasted News New Zealand New Zealand’s high use of seclusion and restraints in prisons and other facilities has been criticised in an international report on the practices.
April 17, 2017 New Zealand: sensible sentencing trust: prisoner reoffending a Māori problem News New Zealand The Sensible Sentencing Trust says Māori are to blame for the high rate of prisoner reoffending, not Corrections or the justice system.
March 2, 2017 New Zealand: government announces plans to beef up prisons inspection regime News New Zealand Corrections Minister Louise Upston says the changes to the prison inspection regime will give the public greater assurances about the safety of the system.
March 1, 2017 New Zealand: chief Ombudsman slams excessive use of prisoner restraint News New Zealand The Chief Ombudsman has condemned prisons’ excessive use of restraints and tie-down beds.
February 15, 2017 New Zealand: secure unit for high-risk offenders opened News Facilities New Zealand Corrections Minister Louise Upston today opened a new residential facility at Christchurch Men’s Prison that will accommodate high-risk sexual or violent offenders subject to Public Protection Orders.
December 12, 2016 New Zealand : Christmas behind bars - what our inmates will eat on December 25 News New Zealand There will be no trimmings, treats or trifle for the 10,000-odd prisoners behind bars this Christmas. The Department of Corrections has today released details of the Christmas Day menu for the inmates at its 18 prisons across the country.
October 26, 2016 New Zealand : inmates at South Auckland prison locked down since Saturday over 'operational situation' News New Zealand Up to 80 inmates at Wiri prison have been on lock-down since Saturday, 1 NEWS can reveal. The high security jail is run by Serco, a private British company. Inmates have told families they are frustrated at being locked in their cells since Saturday, without being given an explanation why. They had…
October 23, 2016 New Zealand : Maori prison rates at record levels News New Zealand This week, the Government announced it’s putting 1800 new beds in New Zealand prisons at the cost of $1 billion. Over half of these will end up being filled by Māori men.
October 18, 2016 New Zealand : governement to spend $1b boosting prison bed numbers News New Zealand The government is to spend $1 billion building another 1800 beds in prisons. Most of the new places will be in a new 1500-bed facility at Waikeria Prison in Waikato.
October 12, 2016 Details of New Zealand prison fight club revealed in official report News New Zealand Dozens of men stand around and watch as a pair of inmates throw wild punches, kicks, knees and elbows at each other. When one man goes down, another steps in immediately and the winner takes on his next challenger.
October 6, 2016 New Zealand : Serco failure won't end privatisation News New Zealand A damning report on Serco’s management of Mt Eden Correctional Facility will not spell the end of privately run prisons or further contracts for Serco, the Government says.
June 12, 2016 New Zealand : ACC defends investing with Serco News New Zealand The Accident Compensation Corporation is defending its decision to form a joint venture with Serco to build and run Wiri prison, despite the British-based company being on a list of banned investments.
June 2, 2016 New Zealand : why are there so many Maori in New Zealand's prisons ? News New Zealand New Zealand has one of the highest incarceration rates in the Western world, and more than half of the prison population is Maori. Journalist Aaron Smale goes inside to find out why and discovers that it is a reflection of the country’s deeper inequalities.
April 17, 2016 New Zealand : 85 prisoners have died while serving prison sentences News New Zealand A total of 85 prisoners died while serving a prison sentence in New Zealand since 2010, while at least 100 others had their lives saved by staff.
March 24, 2016 New Zealand's transgender prisoners fear double bunking will lead to more rape News LGBTQI New Zealand Incarceration rates mean jails are running out of beds. But prison advocates worry transgender inmates are the ones suffering the most.
