List of Correctional Facilities in New Zealand - Proposed New Mens' Prison at Wiri in Manukau

Proposed New Mens' Prison At Wiri in Manukau

In 2010 Corrections Minister, Judith Collins said an additional 2270 prison beds would be needed by 2019 to cope with forecast growth in prisoner numbers and to replace aging existing prisons. In response, the Government announced that the Department of Corrections proposed the establishment of a new men’s prison with 1060 beds on undeveloped land adjacent to the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility at 20 Hautu Drive, Wiri, Manukau City.

The Government intends that the new prison will be designed, built and operated under a public-private partnership (PPP). A custodial PPP is where a private sector consortium signs a 25-year contract with the Department of Corrections to design, build, maintain and operate the prison for the duration of the contract.

Environment Minister Nick Smith established a board of inquiry to fast-track the building of the new prison allowing it to bypass the usual resource consents process which is subject to appeals in the Environment Court. After a three-week hearing in May 2011, the inquiry gave Corrections the go ahead to build the prison. A few months later, justice sector forecasts showed a drop in the projected prison population - for the first time ever. Prime Minister John Key then commented that the new prison at Wiri may no longer be needed but also said it might still be built so that 'older prisons may be retired'.