Rimutaka Prison

Rimutaka Prison is in Upper Hutt, north of Wellington. It is one of New Zealand's largest prisons, and opened the country's first container-cell unit in 2010.

View Larger Map

Contact details

Phone: (04) 529 0800

Postal Address:
Private Bag 47901
Trentham
Upper Hutt 5143

Physical address:
Freyberg Rd extension
Trentham
Upper Hutt
Wellington

General information

Prisoner capacity: 942
Security classification: Minimum to high security male prisoners
Staff numbers: 570
Year established: 1967 (originally called Wi Tako)

Security

Rimutaka Prison is enclosed by a highly secure fence and the prison has surveillance equipment and lighting around the perimeter.

The prison only has one point of entry for all visitors and staff. They must pass through a metal detector and have their belongings x-rayed and may be searched by staff or a drug dog.

Inside the prison there are electronic security devices and cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors, microwave sensors 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 the programmes run by Corrections.

Specialist units at Rimutaka Prison:

• Te Whare Manaakitanga (formerly Violence Prevention Unit)
• Drug Treatment Unit
• Maori Focus Unit - Te Whare Whakaahuru
• Faith-Based Unit - He Korowai Whakapono
• Self Care Unit

Prisoner-employment industries at Rimutaka Prison:

• Plant nursery
• Timber joinery workshop
• Uniform distribution
• Food preparation and catering
• Grounds maintenance
• Commercial work parties

Every prison has a range of industries that 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.

More information about prisoner employment

Download more detailed information about Rimutaka Prison (PDF, 44.6KB)