28704 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

28704 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: What additional measures, if any, are being considered if the prison population rises above the current funded level of 10,860 prisoners to 30 June 2026?

Hon Mark Mitchell: As Minister of Corrections, my priorities include improving staff safety and increasing prison capacity. Having sufficient, fit-for-purpose capacity across the national prison network is vital in keeping staff and the public safe. Corrections has enough capacity to manage anyone that is remanded into Corrections' custody, with 11,377 open and operational beds as at 13 May 2025 and no sites over capacity. Corrections has more physical beds than it does prisoners, and is working hard to open new beds. This includes the recent construction of the new facility at Waikeria Prison, which is complete, with prisoners due to be received in the coming months. The facility will add 500 beds to the national prison network, and an additional 96 beds in a dedicated mental health and addiction service. Work is also underway to add further capacity through a 810 bed extension at Waikeria Prison. and the Christchurch Men’s Prison Redevelopment. Corrections has also eased capacity pressures in the short term by opening additional beds across the network, such as at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, Rimutaka Prison, and Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility. Corrections has developed a Long-Term Network Configuration Plan (LTNCP)to ensure they are future-proofing the prison network to meet population growth. As part of the LTNCP, Christchurch Men’s Prison Redevelopment was listed as one of the first projects. There are four phases to the CMP redevelopment. Phases 1 and 2 will be designed, built, financed, and maintained for a period of 25 years under a Public Private Partnership (PPP), with Corrections retaining responsibility for operations and custodial management of the facility. This approach ensures that required capacity is delivered faster while minimising disruption to the day-to-day operations of the prison. Funding for Phase 1 was provided through Budget 2025 to deliver 240 new high security beds, along with a new Health Centre and Intervention and Support Unit containing 52 beds. Subject to funding approvals, Phase 2 is intended to deliver an additional 240 new high-security prison beds. Corrections has work underway to ensure there are sufficient capacity to meet expected capacity requirements between now and before the Waikeria Prison extension opens in 2029. Corrections continues to monitor and report to me on the prison population and will also be informed and guided by annual Justice Sector Projections. We are prepared to adjust our approach to increase prison capacity, as needed, and subject to appropriate decision making. This is also my response to WPQ 28710 (2025) and WPQ 28714 (2025).