17265 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

17265 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: What are the job titles, if any, involved in delivering cultural capability in the Department of Corrections, and how many roles are there filled and unfilled as of 31 March 2025?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that Corrections is one of New Zealand’s largest core agencies employing around 11,000 staff who currently work with over 10,000 people in prison and over 25,000 people serving sentences and orders in New Zealand prisons and communities to reduce their risk of reoffending and keep communities safe. The role of the Cultural Capability team is to ensure that Corrections staff have the skills and confidence to engage with offenders in a way that supports them to make positive change to their lives. While a number of positions at Corrections require cultural engagement and capability as part of their role, the attached table provides the titles of roles specifically dedicated towards cultural capability, broken down by roles that are filled and unfilled. I am further advised that there is a proposal for change currently being consulted on in Corrections’ People and Capability group. The proposal seeks to disestablish 79 positions, 42 of which are currently filled. Four of the roles proposed to be disestablished include the four vacant Cultural Capability roles.