15069 (2025). Rawiri Waititi to the Minister of Corrections

15069 (2025). Rawiri Waititi to the Minister of Corrections: What is the Department of Corrections’ current policy, if any, on detaining elderly or terminally ill prisoners, and what criteria are used to assess eligibility for compassionate release?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that although elderly people make up only a small proportion of the total prison population, Corrections is committed to ensuring that their sentences are managed humanely, including through the provision of appropriate health services. Corrections also has an Ageing Well Action Plan 2023-2026, which outlines the steps they are taking to improve the experience of older people who are in prison. Further information is publicly available at https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/strategic_reports/ageing_well_action_plan_2023-2026 I am further advised that compassionate release can be granted to sentenced individuals by the New Zealand Parole Board in accordance with section 41 of the Parole Act 2002. Compassionate release almost always involves cases where a person is seriously ill and is unlikely to recover and would include cases where a person is elderly and has significant medical needs. Further information can be found at https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-Manual/Release/R.02-Early-release-for-seriously-ill-prisoner and https://www.paroleboard.govt.nz/about_us/what_we_do/compassionate_release