77045 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

77045 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: Further to WPQ 75349 (2024) will the Minister take any steps to proactively address the shortcomings in most holding cells in court facilities and Police stations identified by the Ombudsman who stated "detainees were eating all, or certainly most, of their meals in proximity to an open toilet. In court facilities, the drinking water available to detainees also came from the wash basin in the top of the toilet" and "Eating and drinking in close proximity to an open toilet appears to be unsanitary and inconsistent with tikanga Māori" or will improvements only be made when the facilities otherwise required replacement or refurbishment?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for building and maintaining custody facilities in New Zealand’s courts. Designing and building police stations is a matter for the Minister of Police. I am advised that there are currently no plans for a national programme to build separate areas for eating and toileting in court custody facilities.