Sound off Against Privatisation demonstration outside the National Party’s ‘Investment Summit’. Video / Michael Craig
The Government has revealed a major overhaul for Christchurch Men’s Prison with an initial cost of up to $800 million as the prison population swells.
The prison is the South Island’s primary high-security site, but its ageing facilities are causing security issues.
Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell announced plans for the prison’s redevelopment via a Public Private Partnership (PPP) at the Infrastructure Investment Summit in Auckland today.
“Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and ensuring there are consequences for crime, and because of that, we’ve seen the prison population nearing its March 2018 peak,” he said.
“We’re investing in our prisons to meet the growing demand for capacity, keep frontline staff, prisoners and the public safe, and provide the best possible environment to rehabilitate prisoners to reduce the risk of reoffending.”
Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell announced the funding for the Christchurch Men's Prison redevelopment at the Infrastructure Investment Summit in Auckland. Photo / Hagen Hopkins
Cabinet has agreed to provide funding for phase 1 of the redevelopment programme, Mitchell announced today.
This will redevelop the High Security Accommodation Building, adding 240 high-security beds. An Intervention and Support Unit and Health Centre will also be redeveloped, along with other supporting facilities.
“The indicative capital cost for construction of the facilities in phase 1 of this redevelopment is approximately $700-$800m,” Mitchell said.
The first phase of redevelopment will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 25 years under a PPP, with Corrections retaining responsibility for operations and custodial management.
“This investment will help ensure we have enough fit-for-purpose beds to manage high-security prisoners and that Corrections has sufficient capacity to meet the growing prison population.
“The new Intervention and Support Unit will provide dedicated, specialist mental health support to prisoners who are at risk of harming themselves or others. This unit will be safer for staff, giving them the facilities they need to do their jobs well, and will be a much better environment for the prisoners being treated there,” Mitchell said.
“A significant number of prisoners experience mental health issues, which can be extremely challenging for both them and our frontline staff.
“The new Health Centre will deliver a range of healthcare services to the men in prison. In addition to nurses and general practitioners, the new facility will host a range of other health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, optometrists and dentists,” Mitchell said.
“Helping prisoners address their mental health and healthcare needs is essential to ensuring they can go on to take part in other rehabilitation programmes and treatment.
“The staff at Christchurch Men’s Prison work incredibly hard to manage some of this country’s most dangerous people and keep New Zealanders safe. We are committed to ensuring they have safe, modern facilities to work in and an environment where they can deliver effective rehabilitation, mental health and health services.”
Labour corrections spokeswoman Tracey McLellan said PPPs in schools, hospitals and prisons would only bring worse outcomes for Kiwis.
“The National Party thinks PPPs are the solution to all problems, but they often end up costing us more,” she said.
“This isn’t how we would’ve gone about it – it is unclear what the ongoing costs over 25 years will be, whether it is good value for taxpayer money, or even if it is cheaper or better than what public investment would do.
“This is a backwards announcement. We shouldn’t be building more beds to lock more people up and this kind of investment should be going towards reducing crime and increasing rehabilitation.”
There are currently 926 operational beds at the prison, 346 of which are in high-security areas.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
