22875 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

22875 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: Further to response 19510 (2025), how much has been spent, if any, on reintegration support for women in other regions outside the Waikato region from 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025, broken down by region and the number of women supported?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that Corrections’ national Reintegration and Community Services team has an annual budget of approximately $60 million to provide a comprehensive and diverse suite of services. Those services are focused on addressing the six pillars of reintegration: Accommodation, Life Skills, Employment, Education and Training, Oranga (Wellbeing) and Whānau (Family and Community support). These range from wrap-around navigational support, life skills programmes, supported accommodation, development of cultural connections, access to essential resources such as identification, bank accounts, education, industry training and employment opportunities. All services help facilitate successful transitions back into the community. I am further advised that most reintegration services are accessible to both men and women. As such, Corrections does not separate funding by gender. Examples of gender-inclusive services include: Navigational Support (Life Skills/ Oranga) • Out of Gate is Corrections’ largest reintegration navigational support service and is available for people serving short prison sentences under two years and on remand. This service is available throughout the country. Life Skills and Resources • The Remand Reintegration programme is delivered in all prison sites with a remand population, offering different practical skills each session to address participants’ reintegration needs. • Frontline prison staff support people in prison who do not already have an identification to apply for birth certificates and photo identification through the Kiwi Access Card before their release. Education and Training • Corrections provides a range of education programmes at various levels to meet the range of needs of people in all prisons, including access to literacy and numeracy support, industry training qualifications, vocational short courses, self-directed learning, and NZ Certificates in Foundation Skills. Employment • This Way to Work programme is Corrections’ own recruitment service which focuses specifically on supporting people with criminal convictions into sustainable employment. This service is available through the country, both prior to release and in the community. I am further advised that at any one time there are around 10,700 people in prison and around 800 of those are women. I am further advised that between 1 January 2024 and 31 March 2025, women were released from prison on 798 separate occasions. I am further advised that, in addition to the general reintegration services available to all individuals, Corrections provides targeted reintegration and supported accommodation services specifically for women. Supported accommodation services are available to women returning to the community who require dedicated housing support in addition to other reintegrative needs. Between 1 January 2024 and 31 March 2025, these services were available in Otago (until 16 January 2025), Canterbury, East Coast, Waikato, Manukau, and Auckland, with a total investment of approximately $3.2 million. During this period, around 55 women with specific housing and reintegration needs were supported through these specialised services.