04 March 2026
C209147
Ti Lamusse
[FYI request #33570 email]
Tēnā koe Ti
Thank you for your request of 21 January 2026 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about the Transgender Policy Practice Review.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Managing prisoners’ safety is one of Corrections’ core functions, and a duty we take
extremely seriously. We have a range of policies, processes and tools in place to ensure that
concerns about prisoner safety are identified and mitigated. This includes prisoners at risk of
self-harm, at risk of harm to others and at risk of harm from others.
At any one time there are around 30 to 40 people in our prisons identifying as transgender.
This accounts for a small percentage of the current total prison population of around 11,000
prisoners, however we acknowledge that transgender prisoners are a vulnerable group with
complex needs.
In March 2018, Corrections introduced a strengthened policy for the management of
transgender prisoners and in 2019 the Department completed the
Transgender Policy
Practice Review. In response to review findings, we strengthened our practice guidance to
improve understanding of the needs of transgender people and to help staff provide, safe,
professional, respectful, and appropriate care and management.
If it is established that a prisoner identifies as transgender during their initial reception
process, or at any other point of their management, an alert is placed on their electronic
file. This policy aims to improve staff understanding and practice to support the needs and
wellbeing of transgender people and ensure they are afforded a standard of care that is
professional, respectful, preserves dignity, and ensures safety and privacy.
Each transgender prisoner has an individualised support plan and is able to choose the
gender of staff who conduct searches. The provision of an individual support plan does not
depend on whether the transgender prisoner has legal recognition of their gender identity,
or whether they have undergone medical or surgical steps.
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
Custodial staff are provided with training material to develop an understanding of gender
diversity, with a focus on the use of a person’s preferred name and pronouns, and
appropriate language.
These guidelines align our approach with comparable jurisdictions internationally, as well as
other New Zealand agencies such as New Zealand Police and Customs.
Corrections’ policies for the placement and management of transgender people in prison
are available on our website, at the following links:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-
Manual/Induction/I.10-Management-of-transgender-prisoners https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-
Manual/Movement/M.03-Specified-gender-and-age-movements/M.03.05-Transgender-
prisoner Our transgender policy was implemented to support the management of transgender
people in prisons. Corrections provides a flexible learning module called
Working with trans
people that raises awareness around gender identity, pronouns, support and the new policy
including searching and access to items. Corrections also provides staff with
Rainbow
Diversity Training, which focuses on building an awareness and understanding of LGBTQIA+
terminology, respecting dignity, and being aware of unconscious bias.
Corrections is also committed to supporting and promoting diversity and acceptance in our
workplace, and we have a Rainbow Network, which is available to all Corrections employees
to join. The Rainbow Network’s aims include promoting greater understanding and open
dialogue about how we can make Corrections a safer place to work for LGBTQIA+ staff, in
addition to empowering staff to work more effectively with LGBTQIA+ people we manage.
In accordance with our obligations under the Corrections Act 2004, all prisoners are entitled
to receive a standard of health care reasonably equivalent to that found in the community.
With regard to the medical needs of transgender prisoners, it should be noted that Medical
Officers working in prisons assess a prisoner’s condition and determine whether primary,
secondary or tertiary level intervention or treatment is appropriate.
You requested:
In 2019, the Department completed a “Transgender Policy Practice Review”, which
was provided to the Human Rights Commission for its Prism report (see here:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftikatangata.o
rg.nz%2Fcms%2Fassets%2FDocuments%2FReports-and-Inquiry%2FSOGIE-
Reports%2FPRISM-Human-Rights-issues-relating-to-Sexual-Orientation-Gender-
Identity-and-Expression-and-Sex-Characteristics-SOGIESC-in-Aotearoa-New-Zealand-
A-report-with-recommendations-
PDF.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cinfo%40corrections.govt.nz%7C97c1ce3df3444e5cd0fd0
8de5894c26b%7Cfc4d60d1bb674d7b898109a1c54e91ea%7C0%7C0%7C6390455936
60785012%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjA
3
uMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7
C&sdata=35GR79MaYmgWbRL51LjQAED9iLjpqv497Jt1Swu1lr0%3D&reserved=0).
Please provide me with a copy of the report produced from the “Transgender Policy
Practice Review”.
Please see attached as Appendix One, the report titled
“Transgender Policy Practice
Review”.
Please note that while we are releasing this document to you, certain information, being
information relating to people we manage and internal staff contact information, is deemed
to be personal information. We have considered the release of this information would
impact on their right to privacy and their ability to engage fully in this review without facing
any possible negative repercussions.
We are unable to release the details you have requested as we have determined that doing
so would contravene those obligations under the OIA. Therefore, this part of your request is
refused under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons, including
that of deceased natural persons.
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.
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
