01 April 2021
C131237
Moka Harris
[FYI request #14582 email] Tēnā koe Moka
Thank you for your email of 30 January 2021, regarding the availability of Christian
Freeview channels at Northland Region Corrections Facility. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). I apologise for the delay in
responding to you.
Due to technical constraints, the number of television channels available in prisons is
limited by supporting infrastructure. All prison units are connected to the prison site’s
distributed television network and available television channels do not vary between
any Corrections-managed prisons.
There are 12 channels available across prisons, which consist of nine Freeview
television channels, one Corrections television channel and two Freeview radio
channels. This is currently the maximum number of channels that prison
infrastructure can support. Content is selected based on which Freeview channels
are appropriate for the intended audience within a prison.
In May 2020 we made changes to the channels available following an assessment
carried out to determine which content was best received by people in prison. As a
result the following changes were made:
•
Removal of Concert FM and Base FM (two radio channels that prisoners can
still listen to on their own radio or by purchasing a radio) and HGTV channels (a
home improvement channel).
•
Addition of Choice TV (documentaries), Bravo (reality and documentaries) and
the Edge TV (music TV).
I appreciate your comments about access to religious and spiritual support for
people in prison. I would like to assure you that the we are committed to providing
services to people of all faiths while they are in custody. In order to meet the
religious and spiritual needs of prisoners, Corrections contracts the services of
Prison Chaplaincy Service of Aotearoa (PCSANZ).
PCSANZ utilises the services of Prison Chaplains and volunteers to provide support
to prisoners at every Corrections-managed prison. PCSANZ provide the following
services to support prisoners to meet their religious and spiritual needs:
2
•
structured and scheduled religious and spiritual group services
•
individual religious and/or spiritual support and
•
connecting prisoners with community-based faith organisations in preparation
for their release from prison.
Chaplains are on site regularly at Northland Region Corrections Facility to provide
religious and spiritual resources upon request, including weekly bible studies and
church services where requested. Individual services are also able to be provided on
request, for example memorial services. Men at the prison are able to seek the
assistance of the chaplaincy service by asking a staff member.
Chaplains are also responsible for coordinating other faith requests; which can mean
the provision of those resources, and or the provision of pastoral care from those
other faith organisations.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typically,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal
information including name and contact details will be removed for publication.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with
this response, I would encourage you to raise them with Corrections. Alternatively,
you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the Office of the
Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152,
Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Brydie Raethel
Principal Adviser Ministerial Services
People and Capability