Secrecy around Rotorua youth prison sites

Two prospective prison sites in Rotorua are being kept secret to protect the owners from an angry public backlash.

Child, Youth and Family is hunting for a site in the Waikato/Rotorua area to build a $30 million youth prison.

A committee charged with finding the site has shortlisted five locations: two in the vicinity of Rotorua Airport and three in Waikato. It is understood one of the Rotorua sites is behind the Eastgate business park.

Prison selection committee member and Rotorua district councillor Glenys Searancke has refused to name the exact locations, except to say one was about 1.5km from Rotokawa School.

David Hay, a Hamilton-based manager for the Youth Justice Central prison project, defended the secrecy surrounding the search.

Four of the five sites were privately owned and the department wanted to protect the owners' interests and safety.

"We have made a personal commitment to each of them to avoid any unpleasantness that may arise out of public reaction."

The department did not want the vendors subjected to public pressure.

Mr Hay said he appreciated that people may not be "enthused" about living next door to a youth prison, "but that's unfortunate".

Opponents of the youth jail might not understand the purpose of the facility, which would have a primary focus on rehabilitation, not punishment, he said.

The public would be advised of the site's location once the minister had made the recommendation and there would be "absolute full consultation".

The secrecy surrounding the sites has angered Rotorua residents, who last week demanded the department be upfront about the possible sites.

The selection committee will meet late next month to recommend a preferred site or sites to the department.

Rotorua Labour MP Steve Chadwick said she was a strong advocate of the youth justice facility and hoped it came to the district.

"If everyone is going to say 'no way' then what is that going to say about our community? We call ourselves caring."

- NZPA