Annual Report 2025/26

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Introduction from our Chief Executive

Our team of more than 11,000 people work in some of the most challenging and complex environments in New Zealand. Whatever their role, their dedication to our shared purpose of making New Zealand communities safer, by supporting people to leave us better and with brighter prospects, is inspiring.

Our work is not easy. The people we manage have complex mental health, addiction, and behavioural needs. We are also seeing the growing impact of organised crime and increasing levels of violence across our system. Despite these challenges, our people show remarkable dedication, compassion, and professionalism in undertaking their roles and supporting people to build better futures.

The Government's four priorities for Corrections strongly guide our work.

Effective rehabilitation is key to public safety and remains central to our purpose. We continue to strengthen the delivery of rehabilitation and reintegration services, ensuring that people receive the right services at the right time. Through the year, we have made significant progress in extending services to those on remand. Earlier access to rehabilitation and support enables people to make positive changes sooner and better prepares them for successful reintegration into society.

Improving the safety of our staff remains a top priority. While we can never entirely eliminate risk from our work environments, we must do everything we can to make our workplaces safer. This means investing in training, safety initiatives, operational practices, and workplace improvements. I am pleased to have seen serious prisoner-on-staff assaults reduce significantly during the year. In our community space, our Safer Communities initiative is making good progress with a number of safety changes being introduced. In September 2025, we launched our plan to Eliminate Sexual Harassment as part of our commitment to a safe working environment.

We have a critical focus on increasing prison capacity to respond safely and effectively to rising prisoner numbers. In the second half of 2025, 500 additional beds came online at Waikeria Prison. Over the past year, we have also made excellent progress on the 316 high-security bed expansion at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison and completed the procurement phase for the Christchurch Men’s Prison redevelopment.

In the women’s network, we have opened a satellite site of the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility at previously decommissioned facilities at Waikeria Prison. This has brought women closer to their whānau and support networks in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

These investments will ensure we can safely, securely, and humanely accommodate those placed in our management by the courts, while providing environments that support effective rehabilitation and reintegration.

Alongside infrastructure, we are working hard to ensure our staffing levels remain proportional to the prison population. This year saw the launch of our new recruitment campaign, The Real Job. The campaign is delivering positive results, with large numbers applying and being appointed to frontline and frontline support roles. We also have initiatives aimed at retention, workforce development, and leadership capability. These efforts are helping us build a sustainable workforce able to meet increasing operational demands while delivering high-quality services across prisons and the community.

While these priorities rightly demand significant attention, we are committed to the longer-term outcomes we seek to achieve: improved public safety, reduced reoffending, and reducing the overrepresentation of Māori in the corrections system. Guided by our organisational strategy, Hōkai Rangi, we work alongside iwi, community organisations, service providers, and justice sector partners to create lasting change and improve outcomes for the people we manage, their whānau, and our communities.

The achievements outlined in this report reflect the efforts of people right across our organisation. To the more than 11,000 people who serve our communities every day, my sincere thanks. I could not be prouder of your commitment to public service, your support for one another, and your unwavering focus on keeping communities safe.

Ngā  mihi maioha
Rachel Leota
Secretary for corrections and Chief Executive
Te Tumu Whakarae mō Ara Poutama Aotearoa