March 1, 2017 New Zealand: chief Ombudsman slams excessive use of prisoner restraint News New Zealand The Chief Ombudsman has condemned prisons’ excessive use of restraints and tie-down beds.
February 15, 2017 New Zealand: secure unit for high-risk offenders opened News Facilities New Zealand Corrections Minister Louise Upston today opened a new residential facility at Christchurch Men’s Prison that will accommodate high-risk sexual or violent offenders subject to Public Protection Orders.
December 12, 2016 New Zealand : Christmas behind bars - what our inmates will eat on December 25 News New Zealand There will be no trimmings, treats or trifle for the 10,000-odd prisoners behind bars this Christmas. The Department of Corrections has today released details of the Christmas Day menu for the inmates at its 18 prisons across the country.
October 26, 2016 New Zealand : inmates at South Auckland prison locked down since Saturday over 'operational situation' News New Zealand Up to 80 inmates at Wiri prison have been on lock-down since Saturday, 1 NEWS can reveal. The high security jail is run by Serco, a private British company. Inmates have told families they are frustrated at being locked in their cells since Saturday, without being given an explanation why. They had…
October 23, 2016 New Zealand : Maori prison rates at record levels News New Zealand This week, the Government announced it’s putting 1800 new beds in New Zealand prisons at the cost of $1 billion. Over half of these will end up being filled by Māori men.
October 18, 2016 New Zealand : governement to spend $1b boosting prison bed numbers News New Zealand The government is to spend $1 billion building another 1800 beds in prisons. Most of the new places will be in a new 1500-bed facility at Waikeria Prison in Waikato.
October 12, 2016 Details of New Zealand prison fight club revealed in official report News New Zealand Dozens of men stand around and watch as a pair of inmates throw wild punches, kicks, knees and elbows at each other. When one man goes down, another steps in immediately and the winner takes on his next challenger.
October 6, 2016 New Zealand : Serco failure won't end privatisation News New Zealand A damning report on Serco’s management of Mt Eden Correctional Facility will not spell the end of privately run prisons or further contracts for Serco, the Government says.
June 12, 2016 New Zealand : ACC defends investing with Serco News New Zealand The Accident Compensation Corporation is defending its decision to form a joint venture with Serco to build and run Wiri prison, despite the British-based company being on a list of banned investments.
June 2, 2016 New Zealand : why are there so many Maori in New Zealand's prisons ? News New Zealand New Zealand has one of the highest incarceration rates in the Western world, and more than half of the prison population is Maori. Journalist Aaron Smale goes inside to find out why and discovers that it is a reflection of the country’s deeper inequalities.
April 17, 2016 New Zealand : 85 prisoners have died while serving prison sentences News New Zealand A total of 85 prisoners died while serving a prison sentence in New Zealand since 2010, while at least 100 others had their lives saved by staff.
March 24, 2016 New Zealand's transgender prisoners fear double bunking will lead to more rape News LGBTQI New Zealand Incarceration rates mean jails are running out of beds. But prison advocates worry transgender inmates are the ones suffering the most.
May 27, 2011 New Zealand : stay out of trouble if you don't like prison food News Material conditions New Zealand Corrections Minister Judith Collins has a message for the long-term prisoner who is demanding healthier menus: “Stay out of jail if you don’t like the food”.
