33517 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

33517 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: Has any public health authority or agency conducted testing of the water supply at Christchurch Men’s Prison since 1 June 2025; if so, what were the results?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that there are two water bores that provide water for both Christchurch Men’s Prison (CMP) and Christchurch Women’s Prison (CWP). Corrections is responsible for routine water sampling in accordance with the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules 2022 to ensure compliance with the Drinking Water Standards of New Zealand. Corrections contracts Downer to operate the water network and undertake water quality testing of these bores. No public health authority or agency has directly conducted water testing of CMP’s and CWP’s water supply network since 1 June 2025. I am further advised that from 1 June 2025 to 2 July 2025, all routine water sampling tests remained compliant with drinking water standards. On 3 July 2025, routine water sampling was taken and when results came back on 4 July 2025, E.coli was detected in one of the bores. I am further advised that Corrections has well-established and well-practiced protocols for managing illnesses within prisons that meet their obligations under legislation. As soon as Corrections received the positive test result on 4 July 2025, they notified all staff, prisoners, contractors and visitors at both CMP and CWP, as well as the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai, New Zealand Food Safety (Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), the National Public Health Service and my office. This included that the tap water at CMP and CWP was not safe to be consumed, and a boil water advisory had been issued. I am further advised that bottled water was sourced and distributed to prisoners at CMP and CWP on 4 July 2025, and a 16,000L potable water tanker was delivered to each site. In addition, 20L potable water containers were used to transport potable water from the tanker to each unit to allow prisoners and staff to refill water bottles as needed. At no point was any prisoner locked in their cell without access to safe drinking water for 24 hours. I am further advised that Corrections sought advice from New Zealand Food Safety regarding any precautionary measures required for food preparation and handling. Staff at CMP and CWP implemented additional hygiene measures and cleaning processes in communal areas, including hand-washing stations, hand sanitiser and PPE such as gloves. Two in-person visits in one unit at CWP were cancelled as a precaution on 6 July 2025. I am further advised that prison staff encouraged prisoners to advise staff if they were experiencing gastro-like symptoms. A small number of prisoners (three at CMP and 11 at CWP) reported feeling unwell. These prisoners were isolated as a precaution and were supported by health staff on-site. Those reporting as unwell were offered the opportunity to provide samples for testing to confirm whether they had E.coli. All faecal samples returned negative test results. I am further advised that between 1 June 2025 and 8 July 2025, one complaint was submitted to the Ombudsman and two complaints were submitted to the Office of the Inspectorate regarding water quality at CMP. Additionally, CMP received nine PC.01 complaints in relation to water quality. Corrections is not aware of any other water quality complaints being lodged since 1 June 2025 at CMP. I am further advised that additional daily water sampling was conducted from 4 to 8 July 2025. Following three consecutive days of compliant test results (taken on 4, 5 and 6 July 2025), and after liaising with the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai, New Zealand Food Safety and the National Public Health Service, Corrections lifted the boil water notice for CMP and CWP on 8 July 2025. Both prisons were informed that potable water use could resume under business-as-usual conditions. Please note that as the Minister for Corrections I do not intervene in operational matters so received no advice regarding E. coli contamination in the water supply at Christchurch Men’s Prison. This is also my response to WPQ 33515 (2025), WPQ 33516 (2025), WPQ 33518 (2025), WPQ 34296 (2025), WPQ 34299 (2025), WPQ 34300 (2025), WPQ 34303 (2025), WPQ 34305 (2025) and WPQ 34307 (2025).