07 July 2022
C152968
B. G. McDonald
fyi‐request‐19600‐[email address]
Tēnā koe B. G. McDonald
Thank you for your email dated 4 June 2022 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about COVID‐19 stage settings used in prisons.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
As an organisation, Corrections’ top priority is safety – of the public, staff, visitors, and the
people Corrections manages in prisons and the community. Since March 2020, Corrections
has put in place extensive plans to manage the risk presented by COVID‐19, and we have
continuously refined these plans in response to changing Alert Level settings and the
introduction of the COVID‐19 Protection Framework (traffic light system). This has involved
restrictions on some activities in prisons, including visits, to keep people in prison and our
staff safe.
A key objective for Corrections moving forward is to build resilience to COVID‐19 across all
parts of the organisation. In late May 2022, we began transitioning towards a new COVID‐19
Custodial Resilience Operating Framework (CCROF) in prisons. This will provide the flexibility
and support required to deliver rehabilitation and reintegration services in prison, while
still keeping staff and people in prison safe.
Corrections’ website has been updated to include information about the CCROF, at:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/news/corrections_covid‐19_update.
We know how important visits from friends and whānau are to people in prison, and to
supporting a person’s rehabilitation and reintegration.
Prisons are currently working on plans to resume activities over the coming weeks, including
visits from friends and whānau, in a safe and sustainable way. Not all prisons will be ready
to resume visits at the same time – this will depend on levels of COVID‐19 at different sites
and staffing availability. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, the community, and people in
prison is our highest priority, and visits will resume at sites when they can be safely
undertaken.
You requested:
I am interested in finding out what Covid‐19 Stage settings have been used in all
Corrections‐run prisons since their implementation on 3 December.
I would like to know what Stages each prison has been at (individually) and at what
dates these changed (if applicable).
As you are aware, on Friday 3 December 2021, Corrections implemented a three‐stage
model for custodial environments to support our approach to keeping COVID‐19 out of the
prison population. Prisons operated at one of three COVID‐19 stages, which reflected the
level of risk for each site, regardless of the traffic light setting. This model retained many of
the key features of the approach we have taken in prisons throughout our response to the
pandemic.
The three‐stage model could be applied at any traffic light setting. Community transmission
was the primary consideration when assessing the risk to prisons, whereas the Government
took a much broader range of factors into account when making decisions on traffic light
settings.
The stages supported our frontline prison staff to balance keeping COVID‐19 out of prisons,
while giving the greatest level of access to whānau, health, and reintegration and
rehabilitation services possible. The model supported greater availability and access to core
and essential health services, including mental health and addiction services, across all
stages.
Prison Directors were able to make decisions, supported by a decision‐making framework,
on whether specific activities which pose a higher level of risk could continue at different
stages. PPE, good hygiene practices, and staff staying home when sick played an important
role in our response to COVID‐19 under the model.
Appendix One provides a further breakdown of the three‐stage model. Appendix Two
provides a breakdown of what stage each prison has been at, and the date these changed.
Note that this information also includes Auckland South Corrections Facility, which is
managed by Serco under a Public Private Partnership but was also subject to the three‐stage
model.
As noted above, the CCROF was introduced in prisons in late May 2022, replacing the three‐
stage model and Corrections’ website has now been updated to include information about
this new framework.
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. I encourage you to raise any concerns
about this response 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
Ben Clark
Acting National Commissioner
Appendix One: Breakdown of the Three Stage Model
Stage 3
Stage 3 reflects a very high level of community transmission and is our most restrictive setting. Stage 3 may be
used at any traffic light setting if positive cases in a prison are no longer confined to quarantine units. Stage 3
reflects the potential need for sites to operate with reduced staffing levels.
This means:
No Face‐to‐face visits for personal, legal, and specified visitors. Virtual / phone options may also be
available if possible.
Strict entry controls – only essential persons allowed on‐site at any time.
4‐point PPE required across the site. PPE use for prisoners enforced.
Internal staff contact tracing systems will be maintained.
Construction contractors can enter for critical maintenance only.
Health screening for all people entering prison, including the use of thermal cameras will be
maintained.
Shielding (separate bubbles) of vulnerable prisoners to be implemented.
Essential health, mental health, and addictions services continue as usual with some services
delivered virtually.
NZ Parole Board hearings undertaken virtually via Corrections laptops / teleconferencing with Board
members at home.
All face‐to‐face group programmes, including rehabilitation and reintegration activities, and
prisoner forums pause unless they are assessed as safe to proceed.
Remote delivery of Case Management only.
Release to Work and Guided Releases paused.
Health assessments / screenings continue to be completed prior to release.
Information and support provided to prisoners being released around the traffic light system, and
to access My Vaccine Pass if vaccinated.
Stage 2
Stage 2 reflects a medium to high level of community transmission and places restrictions on certain activities.
Stage 2 is likely to be used for regions in Orange or Red settings (where there is high community transmission
and/or a lower level of prisoner vaccination) or areas subject to localised protections under the traffic light
system. Any positive cases in the prison will be confined to our quarantine units.
This means:
No Face‐to‐face visits for personal and legal visitors. Virtual / phone options will be available where
possible as the primary option.
PPE and good hygiene practices will continue to be maintained, including the use of 4‐point PPE for
higher risk areas / activities of the prison (Receiving Office, separation, quarantine, prisoner
movements). PPE encouraged but not enforced for prisoners.
PPE continues to be required for all staff.
Internal staff contact tracing systems will be maintained.
Construction contractors can enter for critical maintenance only.
Health screening for all people entering prison, including the use of thermal cameras will be
maintained.
Shielding (separate bubbles) of vulnerable prisoners to be implemented.
All health, mental health, and addictions services continue as usual.
NZ Parole Board hearings undertaken via virtual meetings, with all in‐person meetings suspended.
Face‐to‐face individual rehabilitation and reintegration can occur where assessed as safe.
Remote delivery of Case Management in most circumstances.
Health assessments / screenings continue to be completed prior to release.
Information and support provided to prisoners being released around the traffic light system, and
to access My Vaccine Pass if vaccinated.
Stage 1
Stage 1 is our least restrictive stage. Stage 1 reflects a low level of community transmission, and any positive
cases in the prison will be confined to quarantine units. Stage 1 is likely to be used for prisons in Green or Orange
settings of the traffic light system.
This means:
Face‐to‐face visits continue in prisons for personal, legal, specified, and statutory visitors. Virtual /
phone options will also be available where possible.
PPE and good hygiene practices will continue to be maintained, including the use of 4‐point PPE for
higher risk areas / activities of the prison (Receiving Office, separation, quarantine, prisoner
movements). PPE will continue to be available for prisoners.
Staff and visitors need to wear a face mask.
Internal contact tracing systems will be maintained.
No restrictions on maintenance / construction contractor entry.
Health screening for all people entering prison, including the use of thermal cameras will be
maintained.
NZ Parole Board members able to access prison sites to hold hearings virtually from a different
location to prisoner. A mixture of virtual hearings from the NZPB Offices as well as face‐to‐face
Boards in prison where NZPB criteria are met.
Face‐to‐face rehabilitation and integration programmes continue with PPE, hygiene, and distancing
controls.
All health, mental health, and addictions services continue as usual.
Case Management continues as usual.
Health assessments / screenings continue to be completed prior to release.
Information and support provided to prisoners being released around the traffic light system, and
to access My Vaccine Pass if vaccinated.
Appendix Two: Breakdown of stages per prison
Prison Stages by date
Prison
03/12/2021 23/01/2022
11/02/2022
14/02/2022
04/03/2022
09/03/2022
Northland Region Corrections
1
2
‐
‐
3
‐
Facility
Waikeria Prison
1
2
‐
3
‐
‐
Tongariro Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Hawke’s Bay Regional
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Corrections Facility
Whanganui Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Manawatu Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Rimutaka Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Arohata Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Christchurch Men’s Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Christchurch Women’s Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Rolleston Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Otago Corrections Facility
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Invercargill Prison
1
2
‐
‐
‐
3
Auckland Prison
2
‐
3
‐
‐
‐
Mt Eden Corrections Facility
2
‐
3
‐
‐
‐
Auckland Region Women’s
2
‐
3
‐
‐
‐
Corrections Facility
Auckland South Corrections
2
‐
3
‐
‐
‐
Facility
Spring Hill Corrections Facility
2
‐
‐
3
‐
‐
Notes:
Figures denote a change in the stage implemented at each prison on the specified
date. Where no figure is noted the prison remained at the same stage for that
period.
All prisons remained at Stage 3 until the introduction of the Custodial Resilience
Operating Framework (CCROF) in late May 2022, which has replaced the three‐stage
model.
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
