Social investment, education needed as well as bigger prison, says Bridges

June 18, 2018

Simon Bridges says expanding Waikeria Prison is needed for "effective rehabilitation and reintegration".

Simon Bridges says for "effective rehabilitation and reintegration" of prisoners, Waikeria Prison needed to be expand to adequately hold New Zealand's prison population.

On TVNZ1's Q+A this morning, the National Party leader said he thought the first priority of the New Zealand government "should be keeping New Zealanders safe, and I stand on the side of having fewer victims in these areas".

Bridges also said a social investment plan and education scheme need to be implemented by the Department of Corrections. 

"Building more prison beds means fewer victims. It means better rehabilitation and reintegration. And actually, I think we're going to see real incidents on this government's watch of prisoners and prison guards being less safe with that, frankly, moving to mattresses," he said.

The shabbiest wing at Waikeria Prison will be knocked down to make way for a new 600 bed facility.

The comments come in relation to Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis' suggestion a day after a scaled-down plan for Waikeria Prison was unveiled.

1 News Political Editor Jessica Mutch & 1 News Political reporter Katie Bradford discuss the stories from the week.

"In a worst case scenario if there weren't enough beds in a prison then we'd have to look all available spaces in a prison. And so places such as the prison gymnasium might have to be used a mass dormitory and there may have to be mattresses on the floor," Mr Davis said.

SHARE ME

More Stories