8. PAUL QUINN (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Can she provide an update on any major initiatives to avert the prison capacity crisis?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Talofa lava. Yes, today at Rimutaka Prison I was delighted to open the first prison unit in New Zealand built using pre-loved shipping containers. Due to a lack of planning and action from the previous Government, we were forecast to run out of baseline prison beds this year. The use of containers to provide prison beds, as well as the expansion of double-bunking, has successfully averted the crisis. We have also taken action to manage future growth in the prison muster through the redevelopment of Auckland Central Remand Prison in Mount Eden, and the proposed public-private partnership at Wiri in South Auckland.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The 60-bed unit was built in half the time and cost 30 percent less than a traditionally built unit. The unit was commissioned in August 2009, and only 9 months later we had the unit ready for its first occupants. Although the cells are basic and austere, they are of much better quality than many of the cells in many of our older prisons. They also provide an effective plug in, plug out option. If prison capacity is needed elsewhere, the containers can simply be unplugged from their current location and plugged in where they are needed.