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.

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.

Labour MP Kelvin Davis says the Corrections Minister has lost control of his department.

Labour MP Kelvin Davis has claimed that a prisoner who was thought to have died from a superbug had severe injuries that could only have been caused by violent abuse within jail.

The inmate whose death is the subject of multiple inquiries was on the brink of escaping the life which put him behind bars, friends have told the Herald.

Labour MP Kelvin Davis has claimed a prisoner who was thought to have died from a superbug had severe injuries that could only have been caused by violent abuse.

Ten prison staff have been fired over inappropriate relationships - in some cases sex - with inmates.

“This behaviour of prisoners is unacceptable," said Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Footage was reportedly filmed by an inmate at Auckland's Mount Eden prison who then sent it to media.

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

"They are just locked up and that's that. What about their wellbeing and safety? They are still human beings."

Videos revealing an inmate “fight club” must be investigated independently at once, the Corrections Association president says.

Wearable cameras for prison guards could bring down the number of assaults behind bars, Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

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

The mother of a man who died in Otago Prison is considering a private prosecution or civil action against those responsible.

A string of inquiries is under way into how a healthy 25-year-old inmate died after a five-hour journey between prisons.

A prisoner has won the right to have kosher food, including beef noodles, ribena and protein powder, delivered to his cell, after taking his case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Trailblazing legal crusader Dame Silvia Cartwright speaks candidly to David Fisher about longer jail sentences, child poverty and the strain of being Governor-General.

Michael October is not a rapist and murderer but he carries that stigma with him every day of his life, writes Jarrod Gilbert.

Children with parents in prison are more likely to have poorer health, education and social lives than other children, a newly released research publication has found.

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.

John Ericson, who struck his wife Sandra with a tomahawk 22 times while she slept, says he can't get the counselling he needs to be released on parole.

Auckland Prison has apologised to its neighbours at Paremoremo for an overflowing sewer that has caused a stench sporadically for years.

Prisoners at New Zealand's newest jail will get tablet computers, as well as in-cell desktop screens, if they enrol in Open Polytechnic courses.