The NZ man jailed in the US, who kept his girlfriend's body on ice for a year, says being home in Queenstown is "like Mars".

A New Zealand man behind bars in Bali after allegedly being caught with 3.84 grams of cocaine does not have a criminal background and has never been to jail before, a relative says.

A NZ-born Australian faces up to 12 years in prison after police in Bali caught him with cocaine stuffed in his pockets.

The safety benefits from banning lighters in prisons would outweigh threats of violence over the planned smoking ban, a prison guard says.

Threats to guards are already widespread as a result of the looming smoking ban, the Corrections Association says.

Squeeze on cigarettes is already causing fights, says a man just released from Waikato's Rangipo Prison.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today announced prisoners have 12 months to kick the smoking habit before a total ban comes in.

Smoking will be banned in all prisons from next year. Is this a good idea? Some say it could cause fights, others claim it will reduce lung cancer risks.

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

Carol Hirschfeld talks frankly about what she hopes is life-changing programming at Maori TV.