55889 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Corrections

55889 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Corrections: For the last month for which records are complete what is the least amount of time that a prisoner spent outside of his cells on any given day that month at Northland Region Corrections Facility?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I refer the member to the attached table, which provides the current unit unlock regime at Northland Region Corrections Facility (NRCF). I am advised that since April 2025, Corrections has been recording the provision of minimum entitlements to all prisoners, including entitlements to a minimum of one hour of physical exercise on a daily basis, access to visitors and access to phone calls, using the Prison Tension Assessment Tool (PTAT). This data is entered by prison staff at the end of each day for each unit, and indicates whether minimum entitlements have been met, and if not, the reasons why. I am also advised that minimum entitlements can be denied to people in prison in circumstances specified in legislation. Section 69(2) of the Corrections Act 2004, for example, states that an individual’s 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. This is also my response to WPQ 55890 (2025).