Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says there are no downsides to the Government's plan to build one of New Zealand's biggest-ever prison complexes with an additional 800 beds promised at Waikeria this week.
The expansion of the prison would ultimately create enough capacity for around 1850 inmates.
There are currently 455 beds at the site. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced an 810-bed expansion, which came in addition to 600 new beds currently under construction.
Speaking to Q+A, Mitchell said he couldn't think of any downside to the plan.
"I don't see any downsides at all – not at all. We have a world-class Corrections facility.
"I've got huge admiration for all the people that work in our Corrections system. They are professional, they're motivated, they want to do their best by the people that actually come into the system, to give them the best possible chance of reintegrating," he said.
More questions than answers were raised after the Prime Minister and Corrections Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about the planned $1.9b Corrections spend. (Source: 1News)
In 2018, Labour scrapped the previous National government's plans for a big expansion of Waikeria, settling for a replacement prison with space for around 600 beds. At the time, the government said it was ditching plans for an "American-style mega-prison".
Corrections 'very good' at dealing with gangs - minister
Criminologists have previously raised concerns about the ability of prisons to entrench gang recruitment within the criminal justice system.
Mitchell said gangs were a "negative influence", but said Corrections had dealt with them "for decades" and that they did an "outstanding job" at dealing with them in prisons.
"Gangs always have a negative influence inside our Corrections system. There's no doubt about that. But the one thing I'd say is that our Corrections are very, very good at dealing with that," the minister said. "They've had to deal with gangs for decades."
Political Editor Maiki Sherman was there to hear the arguments. (Source: 1News)
The Police Minister added that he believed the Government's plan to make life "miserable" for gang members would be effective in forcing "them out of the gangs".
"In the last six years, you've had a very permissive environment in which the gangs felt like they could operate with impunity," Mitchell said. "Being part of a gang gave you some status and it was an easy ride.
"Under National, that is going to completely change.
"Being part of a gang is going to become a pretty miserable way of life because the police are getting more powers – they're going to have warrantless search powers.
"We're clamping down on gangs, we're coming for them, and we're going to make sure that life is as uncomfortable as it can be. We want them to leave the gangs."
Mitchell responds to staff union concerns
Waikeria prison in rural Waikato is around 13km from Te Awamutu – the closest town nearby – and 45km from Hamilton City.
The staff union for Corrections officers raised concerns about the location of the mega-prison, though suggested the general concept has "merit". President of the Corrections Association Floyd du Plessis said he had "grave concerns" for the Waikeria build.
"We're talking about building the country's largest prison in an area that doesn't have a very large population… Even if you get people to apply and move there's no infrastructure and housing there to support that," he told RNZ last week.
Mitchell was unperturbed by the issue when asked on Q+A this morning.
He said Corrections staff would be expected to travel from surrounding communities.
"At the end of the day, people might have to travel a bit to get to work, it's not uncommon in New Zealand."
Mitchell said the extra beds announced last week by the Government would take four to six years to deliver, according to RNZ.
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