In June 2007 the Department of Corrections announced its plans to replace Mt Eden Prison on the existing site.
Two new accommodation buildings providing a total of 450 beds are planned to open by mid 2011. These beds will replace the current capacity of Mt Eden Prison, allowing the 120-year-old prison to be decommissioned for prisoner accommodation use.
The heritage-listed Mt Eden Prison building will be renovated and refurbished for staff and administration.
The replacement of Mt Eden Prison will also provide a number of new support facilities. These facilities will be shared by the Auckland Central Remand Prison (located on the same site), providing an integrated and more efficient site operation.
The plan below shows the site following completion of the Mt Eden Prison replacement project.
A number of options were considered for the replacement of Mt Eden Prison and development of the wider site. The current plan was chosen because of its relatively low capital cost and the minimal impact it will have on the site’s heritage features.
This plan allows up to 570 more beds to be provided on the site if required in future. Some of the infrastructure and support facilities required to future-proof the site are included in the Mt Eden Prison replacement project.
The new buildings have been carefully designed to improve the appearance of the site and its fit with the surrounding environment. The buildings will resemble commercial office buildings with appropriate materials and finishes.
The tallest building will be eight storeys high. Although taller than most surrounding buildings it will not be out of place with the site’s environment. It will be located to minimise its impact on site neighbours and on views of Mount Eden (Maungawhau) itself and the historic prison.
When the prison replacement is complete, the site will be largely dedicated to housing remand prisoners. Its central Auckland location makes it ideal for this purpose. Remand prisoners are required to make regular court appearances and have more contact with legal representatives and other visitors.
The Auckland City Council and New Zealand Historic Places Trust have approved the site development plans. On 7 May 2008 the Minister of Corrections, Hon Phil Goff, announced government approval of $216 million capital funding for the replacement of Mt Eden Prison.
Key project dates
The Mt Eden Prison replacement is planned to be operational in 2011. The key project dates are shown below.
| 14 June 2007 | Department of Corrections announces plans to replace Mt Eden Prison |
| 7 May 2008 | Minister of Corrections announces approval of funding to replace Mt Eden Prison |
| July 2008 | Pre-construction work starts |
| October 2008 | Construction work starts |
| Late 2009 | New car park building completed |
| Late 2010 | New gatehouse, prisoner services building and first new accommodation building completed |
| Mid 2011 | Second new accommodation building completed |
What the new prison will look like
The new prison development will blend the old and the new. The landmark Mt Eden Prison building will be preserved and sit alongside the highly secure, functional and appropriately designed new buildings.
Preserving the Mt Eden Prison building will remove the prison’s current unsightly features such as razor wire and guard towers. The design of the new buildings, along with selective landscaping, will improve the overall appearance of the site and ensure it fits in with the surrounding environment.