28 February, 2003
The need for a new women's prison was presented to Manukau City Council commissioners last week.
At a week-long hearing to decide whether a designation should proceed for the prison site at Manukau, commissioners were told that bed shortages at Mt Eden Women's Prison saw the majority of Auckland inmates shifted south to serve their sentences.
"Moving women away from their support networks is expensive and means that their prison term is less likely to be effective," says National Property Manager William Whewell.
"A new 150-bed prison in Manukau City will be able to accommodate women from the upper North Island and keep them near their families. It will also allow the closure of Mt Eden Women's Prison."
The commissioners heard from Department staff, representatives of Pukaki Ki Te Akitai and specialist advisers. Submitters in support of the facility included a Pacific peoples' committee and those against included a neighbouring operation of the proposed site, community members and Ngati Te Ata.
The week-long hearing seeking planning approval for the proposed prison in Manukau was managed by the Manukau City Council. In June last year, a Notice of Requirement outlining the plans for the prison was lodged with the Manukau City Council. Twenty-two public submissions were received in response.
The proposed site for the new prison is off Hautu Drive in Wiri. The 47-hectare site will initially accommodate up to 150 inmates and will include the latest security measures, programmes and management styles. The design of the facility involved input from some local hapu, Maori women and Maori architects.
Four commissioners from the Manukau City Council heard the case and are expected to release their decision on whether the designation should proceed within the next month.