5811 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

5811 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: What actions, if any, have been taken to update and increase prisoner beds?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that a key objective for Corrections is to build a safer, better quality, and more fit-for-purpose custodial network. Corrections has informed me of a range of existing and planned initiatives to ensure sufficient and fit-for-purpose prison capacity. Some of the actions being taken include: • Developing a new facility at Waikeria Prison, which will provide an additional 500 physical beds. • Opening the new modular units at Rimutaka Prison and increasing capacity at other men's prisons, including Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Otago Corrections Facility, Hawke's Bay Regional Prison and Christchurch Men's Prison. • Increasing the number of beds in use across the women's prison sites to reduce the number of inter-prison transfers between the three prisons • The development of an integrated long-term network configuration plan to inform all infrastructure and capacity investment decisions for the prison network. • Agreement between Corrections and their unions on a ‘Prison Capacity: Union Engagement Framework’ to address capacity issues at local and system wide levels.