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What modelling has been undertaken to project women’s prison capacity requirements over the next five years, and what are the projected shortfalls by year?

Answered Question 4119 (2026)
Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Tracey McLellan

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What modelling has been undertaken to project women’s prison capacity requirements over the next five years, and what are the projected shortfalls by year?

Answered by

Hon Mark Mitchell

Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister of Corrections

Answer

While Corrections has undertaken modelling to understand how actual prison population growth has tracked against previous projections, I am advised that Corrections utilises a broad range of tools to inform capacity planning, including the 10-year projections released annually by the Ministry of Justice and their own understanding of the dynamics of the prison population. Corrections has significant experience and expertise in managing projected or actual increases in the prison population, and I am advised that they are continually monitoring against existing and planned infrastructure to ensure there is sufficient fit for purpose capacity available to align with the projected prison capacity over time.