Northland jail opens for business

The country's newest prison is due to lock up its first batch of inmates today.

Seven prisoners, all from Northland, will arrive by van at Ngawha Prison after being collected from other jails.

By the end of next month, said Ngawha Prison site manager Mike Hughes, 28 prisoners with Northland roots would be settled into their new home.

The $133 million Ngawha facility can hold up to 350 inmates.

Mr Hughes said prisoners would slowly be integrated into the site to make the transition as smooth as possible.

"The numbers will gradually ramp up over the next six to eight months."

He said prison officers had been working in shifts this week to familiarise themselves with the workings of the prison before inmates arrived.

The first inmates would be low security and would have at least six months still to serve.

The facility could also hold 15 youths, said Mr Hughes.

When fully operational, it would employ 180 staff.

- NZPA