Minister says Government team is stepping in to run Mt Eden prison, after private firm rocked by allegations of violence.

Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga was under renewed pressure last night after a fresh case of violence was reported from the Serco-run Mt Eden Correctional Facility.

The Corrections Minister's statements are all well and good but the seriousness of prison claims requires a harder line, writes Toby Manhire.

Faced with a growing backlog in the already overloaded justice system, a frustrated judge has criticised Serco's Mt Eden prison for not doing its job.

The inmate whose death is at the centre of a prison violence scandal is the grandson of a National Party stalwart who died just weeks later.

Corrections chief executive Ray Smith revealed a new case of a prisoner being injured at the privately-run Mt Eden Correctional Facility.

Serco has been fined $300,000 in the last year for breaching its contract with the Government, the Corrections Minister revealed this afternoon.

Under-fire Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga has hauled in prison operator Serco for an urgent meeting today.

Embattled Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga is defending his handling of the controversial death of a prisoner at a privately-run prison.

The Corrections Minister has announced a "robust and thorough" review over footage of inmates engaging in banned behaviour in New Zealand prisons.

New wearable cameras and stab-resistant body armour will be introduced for prison guards, the Corrections Minister announced today.

Two teenagers accused of the murder of a man in an Auckland motel have appeared in the High Court.

A Government inquiry into the escape of convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith has been extended.

Convicted double murderer Scott Watson has won a court battle which could allow him to meet a journalist behind bars and break his 17-year silence.

If we are to reduce reoffending, and thereby create fewer victims, crime must often be viewed not as the problem but as a symptom of a problem, writes Jarrod Gilbert.

After a full day hearing, a judge has reserved her decision as to whether convicted double murderer Scott Watson can meet a journalist.

Labour have condemned the restructuring of the corrections system which will see almost 200 jobs cut.

Cells in all New Zealand jails may soon be fitted out with phones and computers in a bid to boost prisoners' educational levels.

Scott Watson will return to court this month to fight a move by Corrections to block a behind-bars meeting with an investigative journalist.

All frontline Corrections officers are to get new lightweight stab-resistant body armour, in a move that comes after the death of an inmate at Christchurch Men's Prison.

In the decision, Smith was described as a “manipulative, serious criminal with a high risk of reoffending”.

The Samoa-born and Mangere-raised MP Sam Lotu-Iiga has been thrown a $1.5 billion, 4000-staff portfolio as the new Corrections Minister.

Prison beatings happen in New Zealand almost daily and only "good luck" stands in the way of more deaths.

The bid by Phillip John Smith and his sister to have their case transferred to the High Court has been delayed until May.

A teenager accused of murder who is on the run after disconnecting his electronic monitoring anklet called Corrections soon after.

The Corrections Department has given the names of 10,000 offenders to border officials in a bid to prevent another escape in the wake of the Phillip Smith case.