Two Auckland prison guards have today been charged with smuggling contraband - including a controlled drug - into jail for inmates. One of the men also faces a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Two Auckland prison guards were arrested today and face a number of charges after a joint operation between police and the Department of Corrections.

The Government has called for expressions of interest for design, construction and operation of a new privately run prison.

One of NZ's most-notorious career criminals pulled in a six-figure income while in jail - then picked up legal aid as well.

Police have launched an investigation into the prison guards' union with a raid on the organisation's offices.

Department of Corrections bosses found taxpayers could be liable for lawsuits from prison guards exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke.

Phil Goff rejected mayoral pleas to reduce the height of the Mt Eden Prison development when he was Minister of Corrections in 2007.

Convicted double-murderer David Tamihere - who killed two Swedish tourists in 1990 - has had his first proper taste of freedom in 21 years.

Two Supreme Court judges yesterday helped to overrule a Privy Council decision which had earlier trumped their ruling when they were judges on the Court of Appeal.

Garth McVicar says the Supreme Court's decision to allow RSA massacre survivor Susan Couch to seek damages from Corrections won't open the floodgates to similar lawsuits.

Forty-three of NZ's most dangerous criminals have been convicted of serious violent offences committed while they were already on parole.

A Corrections staff member tried to hide his poor supervision of a yard where inmates tipped over a crane, and from where one later escaped.

One of NZ's most dangerous sex criminals attacked two women while on parole and under Corrections Department supervision.

The country's youngest convicted killer is the subject of a new police complaint, accused of indecently assaulting two female journalists.