Judith Collins: Serco must 'front up'

Judith Collins has been reinstated as the Corrections Minister

Newly-reinstated Corrections Minister Judith Collins says the under fire private prison operator Serco must "front up" over the fiasco at the Mt Eden jail.

In a direct message to the private prison management Ms Collins says as the minister in charge she will be expecting a different result in the future.

"What happened in Mt Eden was totally unacceptable and it won't be happening again as far as I'm concerned," Ms Collins told Paul Henry.

Describing her reappointment to the tough portfolio as her "dream job" Ms Collins said she would be looking at reports and meeting with prison management to discuss troubled Auckland correctional facility.

Asked what Serco management needed to do she said: "Front up. Come and meet me and I'll have a look at the reports.

"I'll be fair but I want a better outcome for New Zealanders."

She said she wanted to be briefed and appraised of the facts before making further comment on Serco's performance.

But she was heartened by the good reports coming out of other Serco-run facilities, including the newly-opened South Auckland Corrections Facility at Wiri.

Midway through the year the Government took over the management of Mt Eden prison following serious allegations of prisoner mistreatment and fight clubs operating inside the facility.