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Prison visit updates
Last updated: 01 Jul 2022
We know how important visits from friends and whānau/family are to people in prison and to supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration.
Following a long period of significant restrictions due to COVID-19, some prisons have now resumed face-to-face visits. We are planning for the resumption of visits across more prisons over the coming weeks. The resumption of all activities, including visits, will be undertaken in phases as our prisons move towards a more normalised operating environment.
COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for private visitors to people in prison, this includes friends and whānau visiting people in prison. We strongly encourage all visitors to prison to be vaccinated and boosted, and to take a Rapid Antigen Test and return a negative result at home prior to visiting a prison.
Site | Visit status |
---|---|
Northern Region | |
Northland Region Corrections Facility | Open – limited availability. |
Auckland Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Mt Eden Corrections Facility | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Auckland South Corrections Facility | Open |
Central Region | |
Spring Hill Corrections Facility | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Waikeria Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Tongariro Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Lower North Region | |
Whanganui Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Hawke's Bay Regional Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Manawatu Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Rimutaka Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Arohata Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Southern Region | |
Christchurch Men's Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Christchurch Women's Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
Rolleston Prison | Face-to-face visits resuming 2 July with limited availability |
Otago Corrections Facility | Open |
Invercargill Prison | Face-to-face visits paused. Video calls available |
While we do our best to ensure planned visits go ahead, there may be times where visits need to be cancelled at short notice, or when we need to restrict visits in the event of an outbreak. We will try to give advance notice to visitors where possible if this occurs.
Not all prisons will be ready to resume visits at the same time, depending on levels of COVID-19 at different sites, and staffing available.
The safety and wellbeing of our staff, the community, and people in prison is our highest priority, and visits will resume in individual prisons when they can be safely undertaken.
Video calling will continue to be used, particularly where face-to-face visits remain paused.
Vaccination requirements
Please see the list below for more information on our vaccination entry requirements to prisons.
Proof of vaccination
If you are required to be vaccinated to enter a prison ‘inside the wire’, you must show us proof of your vaccination status each time you enter a prison.
Please ensure you bring proof of your vaccination status. Bring a physical copy of your My Vaccine Pass or My COVID Record; and valid photo ID with you. Remember, you can’t bring mobile phones into prison.
You can apply for your My Vaccine Pass at www.mycovidrecord.nz.
COVID-19 Vaccination Entry Requirements
Type of visitor | Includes | Requirement |
---|---|---|
Private | Anyone visiting a person in prison with the purpose of maintaining family and social relationships e.g. whānau, family, and friends. | No vaccination requirement |
People attending hearings in prison | Victims and support people attending NZ Parole Board hearings or restorative justice meetings. | No vaccination requirement |
Contractors and suppliers | Construction and maintenance, contracted service providers, health contractors, delivery workers going ‘inside the wire’, etc. | From 3 July 2022 contractors and suppliers are not required to be vaccinated and boosted, except for Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act regulated health workers working in prisons. Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021, HPCA regulated health workers continue to be required to have received two doses and a booster. |
Specified visitors | Specified visitors include those who provide social, cultural, or religious services to prisoners, volunteers, and people who provide certain assistance to prisoners (such as preparing for a disciplinary hearing). | No vaccination requirement |
Legal representation | Lawyers providing legal services to prisoners. | No vaccination requirement |
Statutory visitors | Statutory visitors as defined in s3 of the Corrections Act 2004(external link) such as Visiting Justices, an Ombudsman, member of the Human Rights Commission, etc. | No vaccination requirement |
Visitors exercising their statutory authority | Employees or contractors of local or central government agencies exercising their statutory authority. For example: Council compliance officers, food safety officers, Police investigating an offence, MSD or Oranga Tamariki workers performing a statutory function. | No vaccination requirement |
Other visitors | Non-legal advisers or assistants helping a prisoner to prepare for a proceeding, private psychologists visiting a prisoner etc. | No vaccination requirement |