14 November 2025
C203696
AJ Wright
[FYI request #32323 email]
Tēnā koe AJ
Thank you for your request of 16 September 2025 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa via the FYI website, requesting videos of the content displayed in the
prison receiving office and on the prisoner television channels. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested:
Can we please get a copy of all videos and information that is player on the prisoner
information Chanel throughout nz prisons including department of corrections and
private run prisons Also all induction videos played in the receiving office at each
prison
The number of television channels available in Corrections’ prisons is limited by the
supporting infrastructure. Content is selected based on which Freeview channels are
appropriate for the intended audience within a prison. Corrections does not use free-to-air
television as a major tool for either rehabilitation or recreation.
All prison units are connected to the prison site’s distributed television network and
available television channels do not vary within any Corrections-managed prisons. The
below table contains the publicly available channels that are provided on prison televisions:
1
TVNZ 1
2
TVNZ 2 Plus 1
3
Three
4
Prime
5
Maori TV
6
Prison Service 1
7
TVNZ Duke Plus 1
8
Eden
9
RNZ National Radio - Audio only
10
Bravo
11
George FM - Audio only
12
Rush
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
As well as the publicly available channels, Corrections provides a channel which shows
different content for the men’s and women’s prisons.
The Prison Service 1 channel runs for about 70 hours each week and replays on a loop. Due
to the size of the content, it is not possible to download this and provide it to you without
significant time and resources. Per section 16(2)(A) of the OIA, information shall be made
available in the way preferred by the requester, unless to do so would impair the efficient
administration of the agency.
In accordance with section 16(1)(e) of the OIA, we have decided to release the information
to you by giving an excerpt or summary of the contents in the form of the current television
schedule for the Prison Service 1 channel. Please see the attached documents marked
Appendix One and Appendix Two, which contain the current Corrections-scheduled content
for the men’s and women’s prison channels respectively.
Please note that while Corrections has previously created a video for the purpose of an
initial prison induction, this plays on the Prison Service 1 channel and not in receiving
offices. While Corrections had planned to play induction videos at some prisons in receiving
offices, this does not currently occur. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under
section 18(e) of the OIA, as the video requested does not exist or cannot be found.
As per section 18B of the OIA, we have considered whether consulting with you would
enable the request to be made in a form that would remove the reason for the refusal.
However, we do not consider that the request can be refined in this instance.
If you have any further questions about the Prison Service 1 channel please contact us
directly via
[Department of Corrections request email].
Additionally, Auckland South Corrections Facility (ASCF) is New Zealand’s only privately run
prison. Their induction video was created approximately six years ago and plays in the
receiving office as part of the induction process.
You have requested for this induction video to be released to you. However, the video
contains images and voice recordings of staff and prisoners at ASCF, both of which make the
individuals identifiable. There is no waiver on file from the participants in this video
confirming whether we are able to release this as a video to the public. Additionally, due to
the passage of time that has passed since this video was created, we are unable to contact
all participants to confirm that they consent to this video being released to the public.
Accordingly, we are refusing your request for a copy of the video in accordance with section
9(2)(a) of the OIA, as withholding the information is necessary to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons.
In accordance with section 9(1) of the OIA, we have considered whether there are public
interest considerations supporting the release of the information which outweigh the
reason for withholding. We do not believe such considerations are present in this case.
3
To protect the privacy of natural persons within the video, we have decided instead to
provide a summary of the content of the ASCF induction video, in accordance with section
16(1) of the OIA. This summary is being provided to you as Appendix Three.
Additionally, ASCF do run an in-house prison channel and some content may be considered
informative, however, the majority of the videos played on this channel are entertainment
movies which are leased to ASCF to view under a limited licence. Section four of this
contractual agreement prohibits copying of these films. Therefore, your request for a copy
of these videos is refused under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA, to protect information that
would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is
the subject of the information.
In accordance with section 9(1) of the OIA, we have also considered countervailing public
interest relating to the release of the information, including transparency, and
accountability. We are satisfied that in this case, public interest considerations do not
outweigh the withholding reasons outlined above.
While we are refusing this part of your request for the above reasons, we note that, apart
from the induction video which is summarised in Appendix Three, the content of this
channel is available for the public to view or purchase from various sources. We have
therefore provided you with a list of the content of the ASCF prison channel for 2025, as
Appendix Four.
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
Leigh Marsh
Commissioner Custodial Services
