48204 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Corrections

48204 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Corrections: What is the maximum length of time that is supposed to exist between an opportunity for interactions with other prisoners provided to a prisoner (who is not in solitary confinement); what is the maximum length of time in practice?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that in accordance with section 69 of the Corrections Act 2004, every prisoner is afforded a number of minimum entitlements, including the provision of at least one hour of physical exercise on a daily basis. This is a minimum entitlement and people are provided with more time outside their cells wherever possible. Minimum entitlements may be denied if there is an emergency in the prison, the security of the prison is threatened, or if the health or safety of any person is threatened. I am further advised while many prisons unlock for a total of six hours across the morning and afternoon, and longer where possible, with some prisons also unlocking in the evening, unlock hours differ between units in each prison due to the operations, the security classification of the people, and programmes in each unit. Staff must assess and manage a range of operational requirements on a daily basis relating to prisoners that can be unlocked together, including whether they are remand or sentenced prisoners, whether they are segregated or mainstream, their security classification and other dynamic issues such as gang tension and the association of co-offenders. As a result, this may mean that there are times where unlocks are staggered at different times of the day. The consequence of this is that a prisoner may be unlocked in the morning one day and then in the afternoon on the following day. I am further advised that people in prison are provided with three meals per day, with breakfast being no more than 14 hours from the previous evening meal, unless food for supper has been provided with the evening meal. I am further advised that to provide the maximum length of time in practice would require substantial collation and I am not prepared to request my officials to undertake this task at this time. With regard to the member’s reference to ‘solitary confinement’, note that people in New Zealand prisons are subject to voluntary or directed segregation, in accordance with section 58 to 60 of the Corrections Act 2004. This is also my response to WPQ 48206 (2024) and 48212 (2024).