A woman who says she is the wife of double murderer Jason Reihana has spoken out in his defence after he was treated for a debilitating illness.

Treatment of autistic man Ashley Peacock raised in Amnesty International report on human rights concerns.

Wanganui farmer Walter Bolton became the last man to be hanged in New Zealand when he was taken to the scaffold on this day 60 years ago.

Law and order looks set to be a major part of this year's election campaign, so is it instead time to re-assess whether the prison system really works?

An Otago prison's been put in lockdown after three staff were assaulted by three inmates.

Corrections have launched an investigation into claims a guard assaulted an inmate at one of New Zealand's toughest prisons.

More than 100 babies have been born to women in prison in the past six years. The Weekend Herald spoke to the mums trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Some of the country's most high profile inmates are demanding compensation and an apology from the Department of Corrections over a mass strip search.

Historic convictions for sex between men in New Zealand will be quashed, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced this afternoon.

A man in jail for an art gallery burglary has been active on Facebook - posting photos of prison tattoos and messaging friends and family about roast chicken dinners.

COMMENT: Bill English has quietly championed a prison reform approach that should appeal to fiscal conservatives and social liberals alike.

The rapidly-growing prison population has forced the Corrections Department to consider reopening prison units which were closed just a year ago.

A prisoner was restrained for 21 hours a day after forensic mental health team would not treat him, a campaigner says.

The man tasked with running New Zealand's toughest prison has today been replaced. Tom Sherlock has been the director of Auckland Prison at Paremoremo since 2012.

The auction by infamous Auckland Prison inmate Arthur Taylor of a shirt he has worn in court has been pulled by TradeMe as it was "a bridge too far".

What will prisoners be eating for Christmas dinner in New Zealand this year? Corrections have released the annual menu for its 10,000 inmates.

Amnesty International say they're "concerned" about the reports released by Crimes of Torture Act inspectors, and steps must be taken to prevent further acts of torture.

COMMENT: Three strikes and you're out. If any expression shows the influence of America, this is it.

COMMENT: The Three-Strikes legislation is only going to increase the prison population. It's time it went the way of its disgraced Act Party champion.

Murderer George Baker was involved in a stand-off with police at Auckland's North Shore Hospital after he was uncuffed by Corrections staff and "smashed up his room".

"It's Not Ok" spokesperson Vic Tamati talks to Hawke's Bay Regional Prison inmates about living a violence-free life. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

How could we have got it so wrong? The pollsters and the politicians, the analysts, theorists and columnists - especially this one

They say a stitch in time saves nine - that's the hope for a group of Auckland prisoners.

An implement was used in an assault against four Christchurch prison guards last night.

Family of jailed woman dying of cancer are praying for good news today.

A review of volunteers in New Zealand prisons has found two were active gang members - one of whom had a conviction for making P.

Labour MP Kelvin Davis says an inmate has reported being given answers to exams in a situation where good test results boost prison-manager Serco's performance.

COMMENT: Some of you will say, 'you do the crime, you do the time'. But if you consider her children's perspective, does your point of view change?

The Government appears certain to miss its target of cutting reoffending in New Zealand by next year.