Christchurch Men's Prison

Christchurch Men's Prison, also known as Paparua,  is on the outskirts of Christchurch and one of New Zealand's largest prisons.

 

The prison suffered no major damage from the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

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Contact details

Phone:
(03) 345 6400

Postal Address:
Private Bag 4726
Christchurch Mail Centre
Christchurch 8140

Physical address:
West Coast Rd
Christchurch

General information

Prisoner capacity: 926
Security classification: Minimum to high security men
Year established: 1925

Security

Single point-of-entry, metal detector and x-ray scanner, electronic surveillance and detection equipment, razor wire fencing, lighting.

Christchurch Men's Prison is enclosed by a highly secure fence and the prison has surveillance equipment and lighting around the perimeter.

All visitors and staff must pass through one point of entry which has a metal detector and x-ray scanner. 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, surveillance cameras 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 can be found in Interventions for prisoners on Corrnet. 

Specialist units at Christchurch Men's Prison:

• Drug Treatment Unit
• Self Care Units
• Youth Unit

Prisoner-employment industries at Christchurch Men's Prison:

• Pig farm
• Organic market garden
• Light engineering workshop
• Timber joinery 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.

Trade Training Workshops

In November 2011, three Trade Training Workshops were opened at Christchurch Men's Prison. The workshops allow around 130 more prisoners to be trained each year in a number of trades, including painting, plumbing, drain laying, roofing and automotive engineering.

The initial purpose of the workshops is to upskill prisoners to contribute to the rebuilding of Christchurch upon their release. It is estimated that an additional 30,000 skilled trades people will be needed in the coming years to work on the rebuild.

More information about prisoner employment.

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