04 September 2024
C185717
K. Priestly
[FYI request #27993 email]
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your email of 9 August 2024 to the Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama
Aotearoa, requesting information about Honeywell. Your request has been considered
under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Honeywell provides electronic security services and associated systems in the custodial
environment within 17 of the 18 New Zealand prisons. Honeywell also provides building
management systems to Waikeria Prison as a subcontractor to the Waikeria Public Private
Partnership (PPP) consortium Cornerstone Infrastructure Partners.
Excluding Auckland South Correctional Facility PPP and the Waikeria PPP Corrections owns
the systems and equipment which are purchased via Honeywell. Honeywell then provide
service and maintenance of these electronic security assets.
Electronic security systems include integrated electronic components and systems built into
a Corrections site that are designed to provide control, monitoring, and surveillance
capability for safety, health, and security purposes.
Below is a list of electronic security systems that Corrections uses and are in scope of
Honeywell’s Contract with Corrections for service and maintenance:
• Security management system
• Security data networks/data storage
• Closed circuit television system
• Intercom
• Contraband detection
• Key issue system
• Pegging (Guard Tour) system
• Locking control and monitoring systems
• Movement control and access control system
• Fixed duress system
• Perimeter detection systems
• Public Address system
• Power backup systems
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
2
Corrections is continuously looking at new technologies and how they could help us to keep
prisons safe and secure.
In terms of Artificial intelligence (AI), AI is not currently being used in any way across our
electronic security systems, including services provided by Honeywell.
You requested:
I request the following information: Information related to Honeywell's involvement
in new prisons, prison expansions, and renovations -
Contracts and agreements: Copies of any contracts, agreements, or memoranda of
understanding (MoUs) between the Department of Corrections and Honeywell Ltd.
that relate to the construction of new prisons, proposed prison expansions, or
renovations of existing prisons from 2018 onwards. This request includes both direct
contracts with Honeywell and any instances where Honeywell acted as a
subcontractor for another entity.
Technical specifications and proposals: Any technical specifications, project proposals,
or tender documents provided by Honeywell Ltd. for the construction, expansion, or
renovation of prisons. This includes documents outlining the scope of Honeywell's
involvement, projected timelines, and the integration of electronic security systems
and technologies.
Communications and correspondence: Any internal and external communications,
including emails, meeting minutes, or reports between the Department of Corrections
and Honeywell Ltd., or within the Department, discussing Honeywell's role in the
construction, expansion, or renovation of any prison facilities. This request specifically
includes communications that discuss the potential use of AI or other advanced
surveillance technologies as part of the security infrastructure.
Risk assessments and impact studies: Any risk assessments, impact studies, or
evaluations conducted by or for the Department of Corrections that mention or
analyse Honeywell’s involvement in the construction, expansion, or renovation of
prison facilities. This includes documents that assess the implications of incorporating
Honeywell's technology into the prison's operations.
Advisory and consultancy services: Information on any advisory or consultancy
services provided by Honeywell Ltd. or any third-party consultants in relation to the
construction, expansion, or renovation of prison facilities. This includes advice or
consultancy on the implementation of security technologies and systems.
Evaluation documents: Copies of any evaluation, audit, or review documents that
mention Honeywell Ltd.’s services or technologies in the context of new prison
projects, expansions, or renovations from 2018 onwards. This includes evaluations of
the effectiveness, security, and cost-efficiency of their technologies and services.
3
Given the wide scope of your request and the time period covered, we conducted a search
of our email system to find emails which mention AI between 1 January 2018 to 20 August
2024. Our initial search has identified around four million emails possibly in scope of your
request. While it is likely that much of this information will not actually be relevant to your
request, the information would need to be manually reviewed to determine what is in scope
of your request and any information we would need to withhold under the provisions of the
OIA.
Identifying all of the other documents you have requested would also require us to conduct
a substantial amount of collation, as these documents are likely to be held across multiple
groups, teams, staff members and filing systems.
Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the information cannot
be made available without substantial collation or research.
In accordance with sections 18A and 18B of the OIA, we have considered whether fixing a
charge, extending the time limit or asking you to refine or amend your request would
enable us to provide a response. However, given the scale of the request, we do not
consider this would be an appropriate use of our publicly funded resources.
Should you wish to resubmit an OIA with different parameters, such as limiting your request
to specific services that Honeywell provide, or a limited time period and Corrections’ team
or function, we will be willing to assist you to the best of our ability.
We hope the information provided in the summary above may help adjust the scope of your
request.
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 hope this information is helpful. I encourage you to raise any concerns about this response
with Corrections. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to raise any concerns with the
Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152,
Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Alastair Turrell
Deputy Chief Executive
Infrastructure and Digital Assets
