505 (2026). Tamatha Paul to the Minister of Corrections

Written Question

Published date: 12 Feb 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	505 (2026)
Question asked:	26 Jan 2026
Member asking:	Tamatha Paul
Portfolio:	Minister of Corrections
Minister replying:	Hon Mark Mitchell
Answer received:	08 Feb 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_00505_2026
Document guid:	9f78622f-a167-4fb1-840a-415026a4a004

505 (2026). Tamatha Paul to the Minister of Corrections: What specific policy, legislative, or operational changes directly contributed to a 24% increase in the women’s prison population in 12 months?

Hon Mark Mitchell: Corrections manages people at the direction of the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board and does not determine who is in prison. I am advised that the modelling of impacts of policy changes on the prison population is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice prepares and publicly releases Justice Sector Projections on behalf of the justice sector, the most recent justice sector projections are available on the Ministry of Justice’s website at the following link: https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/research-data/justice-sector-projections/.