12 March 2026
C209600
C Lane
[FYI request #33617 email]
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your email of 30 January 2026 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about visitation, guiding release and transitional
housing. Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested:
I would like to request all support visitation options for life sentenced inmates with a
minimum security classification, (and other classification, stated for each) attending
such program/s above at Rimutaka Prison, e.g long distance family members have
available options (on application) of 2.5hr inmate standard and special visits (with
children), one per week, two per one week and so on. Please also include adult only
options, per week and so on etc
What is the process for such visit application, and criteria?
Corrections recognises that regular contact and support between prisoners and their
whānau and friends has important and positive effects for all involved. For this reason, we
provide a range of ways for prisoners to stay in touch with friends and family while they are
in prison, including through phone calls, email, mail, video calling and visits. We also try to
accommodate prisoners in areas close to their families and when that is not possible, we try
to transfer prisoners to a prison close to their home region prior to release.
Outside of limited circumstances, all people in prison, including Rimutaka Prison are entitled
to at least one private visitor each week for at least 30 minutes. Each prison determines
how many visits a prisoner can have and how many visitors are permitted at each visit.
Information about staying connected with people in prison, including via video calling, can
be found at the following link on Corrections’ website:
Staying connected with people in prison | Department of Corrections Information about children visiting prisons can be found on Corrections’ website:
Children visiting prisons | Department of Corrections
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
All people in prison are entitled to legal adviser visits, statutory visitors, and specified
visitors. Information about these visitors can be found at the following link on the
Corrections’ website:
V.02.Res.02 Legal adviser visits | Department of Corrections
V.02.Res.03 Statutory visitors visits | Department of Corrections
V.02.Res.05 Specified visitors visits | Department of Corrections
Do inmates attending STURP/STU-VO with a minimum security classification that
have not yet attended their first parole, have available any entitlements or on
application support around family community visits or hui, extra GR options, Marae
Visits in Northland, etc.
Please note my request only relates to Rimutaka Prison STURP/STU-VO programs.
Please refer to our responses to you dated 13 June 2025 (our ref. C196890) and 8 July 2025
(our ref. C199111), regarding Corrections’ Temporary Removal and Temporary Release
procedures and criteria. Those responses are reattached for your convenience as Appendix
One.
Furthermore, information about these procedures is publicly available within the Prison
Operations Manual at the following links:
M.04.05 Temporary removals | Department of Corrections M.04.06 Temporary release | Department of Corrections
An individual completing the Special Treatment Unit for Men with Violent Offending
(STU:VO) can apply for a Temporary Release or Temporary Removal if they meet the criteria
outlined within these procedures. Their application will be considered on a case-by-case
basis.
What available Transitional Housing is available for those above classification that
complete such above program successfully before (please note) and on first parole?
Please supply criteria and process for such.
Corrections partners with a range of community providers to deliver reintegration support
for people transitioning from longer custodial sentences back into the community. Referrals
for supported accommodation are guided by a person’s identified reintegration needs and
their alignment with the criteria of a service.
The process includes an assessment of reintegration needs completed collaboratively by
Corrections’ Case Managers and the individual. The assessment will look at the people’s
reintegration needs, location, any Victim Notification Register (VNR) requirements, and their
eligibility against each of the supported accommodation service’s criteria.
3
Once needs and eligibility have been confirmed, Case Managers will make the referral to the
relevant supported accommodation service. Upon receipt of the referral, the service
provider will complete their own assessment with the individual. Acceptance into a service
is based on a range of individual and service considerations, including the person’s offending
history, proximity to victims, specific reintegration needs, and any special conditions of
release.
The table below outlines Corrections’ funded supported accommodation available
throughout the country, as at 18 February 2026.
Location
Accommodation with Wraparound Reintegration
Support
Northland
• MUMA – Tiaki Tangata
• Te Pā – Supported Accommodation
• Waitomo Papakāinga Development Society –
Support Accommodation
Auckland
• Te Pā - Supported Accommodation
• Te Hā Oranga – Hāpai Ō Supported
Accommodation
• Manaaki Support Services - Intensive
Reintegration Support & Accommodation
Manukau
• Te Pā – Supported Accommodation
• MUMA – Tiaki Tangata
Waikato
• Anglican Action – Manaaki Mai
• Anglican Action – Manaaki Atu (Employment and
Accommodation)
• Te Kohao Health – Te Whare Puutikitiki
• WERA – Tiaki Tangata
• Manaaki Support Services – Tokoroa whare
Bay of Plenty
• Manaaki Support Services – Te Puke whare
• WERA – Tiaki Tangata
• Manaaki Support Services – Whakatane whare
East Coast
• The Salvation Army – Supported Accommodation
Taranaki/Manawatu/Whanganui
• The Salvation Army – Supported Accommodation
• NZCL – Supported Accommodation
Wellington
• The Salvation Army – Supported Accommodation
• Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira – Te Whare
Whakaruruhau
Canterbury
• The Salvation Army – Supported Accommodation
• Ngā Maata Waka – Tiaki Tangata
• Salisbury Street Foundation – Intensive
Reintegration Support & Accommodation
4
Location
Accommodation with Wraparound Reintegration
Support
Otago/Southland
• The Salvation Army – Supported Accommodation
• PARS Otago – Supported Accommodation
• Ngā Maata Waka – Tiaki Tangata
• PACT – Whare Manaaki Intensive Reintegration
Support and Accommodation
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
