Arohata Prison

Arohata Prison is a women's prison in the Wellington suburb of Tawa.

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Contact details

Phone:
(04) 231 3000

Postal address:
Private Bag 51901
Tawa
Wellington 5249

Physical address:
1 Main Rd
Tawa
Wellington 5028

General information

Prisoner capacity: 154
Security classification: Minimum to high security women
Year established: 1944 

Security

Arohata Prison is enclosed by a highly secure fence topped with razor wire and the prison has surveillance equipment and lighting around the perimeter.

The prison only has one point of entry with a metal detector which all visitors and staff must pass through. Everyone may be searched by staff or a drug dog and their belongings or vehicles may be searched as well.

Inside the prison there are electronic security devices, detection equipment and cell phone jammers.

Reducing re-offending

Getting prisoners to live offence-free lives once released is a key part of Corrections work. To help achieve this all prisons run a range of programmes for offenders that fall into four broad categories:

• motivational programmes to get offenders to accept they need to change
• rehabilitation programmes to get offenders to understand and change their offending behaviour
• education and employment programmes
• reintegration programmes to give prisoners key life skills to live back in the community

More information on programmes for offenders run by Corrections.  

Specialist units at Arohata Prison:

• Drug Treatment Unit
• Self Care Unit

Prisoner-employment industries at Arohata Prison:

• Commercial laundry
• Textiles workshop
• Food preparation and catering
• Grounds maintenance

Every prison has a range of industries run by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE). These industries create work environments that match those in the community as closely as possible and give prisoners training and experience that will improve their chances of employment when released. Nearly half of offenders were not in paid work before going to prison and research has shown that prisoners who find work once released are less likely to re-offend.

 Download more detailed information about Arohata Prison (PDF, 39KB)