Speech notes for opening ceremony at Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility

Tena koutou, Talofa Lava, welcome and thank you all for joining us today for the opening of the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the guests who are here today:

• Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark,
• Minister of Maori Affairs Hon Parekura Horomia,
• Mayor of Manukau City Sir Barry Curtis and Manukau City councillors,
• George Hawkins MP,
• Ron Mark MP,
• ARWCF Kaitaiki: Puukaki ki te Aakitai
• Matt Robson, Former Minister of Corrections.
• There are many others.

Thank you for taking the trouble to mark the opening of this facility.

I would also especially like to acknowledge and thank Puukaki ki te Aakitai as our partner and kaitiaki for the site.

Their support and involvement has been integral to its design and construction.

Their ongoing involvement will continue to be vital to the management of the prison and to the aim of reducing the re-offending of those who are sent here.

Auckland Women's Prison is due to start receiving prisoners in August. It is the second of four that are being constructed as part of the regional prisons project, which combined will add over 1600 new beds.

The first to be completed, Northland Region Corrections Facility, has been operating successfully since it opened in March last year. Spring Hill and Otago are scheduled to open next year.

These prisons are not and will not be "gold-plated". They have been carefully designed to be functional and effective. They will provide state-of-the-art security and give prisoners every opportunity to rehabilitate themselves.

At $890 million they represent a major investment and demonstrate a strong commitment by the Labour-led government to keep the community safe from dangerous and violent criminals.

We do not like to sink so much money in prisons.

But in 1999, when Labour came to power, we inherited a creaking prison system that was in desperate need of renewal. We have worked hard to meet that challenge.

First and foremost Auckland Women's Prison is a prison, and as such, its primary purpose is to securely house those who have broken the law, thereby protecting the community.

As you will have noticed when you arrived today it incorporates leading edge security technology.

But, while community safety is our absolute priority, we should not accept that the number of people we lock up will inevitably continue to rise in the long term.

An important first step to address and ultimately reduce the prison population is to get serious about reducing re-offending.

Everything about this facility is designed to do just that. Women prisoners will be encouraged to improve their behaviour and take responsibility for themselves.

And it provides opportunities for rehabilitation when the realisation that there can be a better life occurs for these women.

That is why I am intent on increasing the number of places on drug and alcohol treatment courses across our prison system.

Earlier this week, we announced a new 100-bed treatment unit in Christchurch Prison, a doubling of places at Waikeria Prison and plans to open a new unit in the lower North Island.

I see no reason why new sites such as Auckland Women's cannot also have their own units. It is an avenue I am determined to pursue.

Prison-based treatment for gambling addiction is also is an area I am actively looking at because there is growing evidence that this addiction contributes to offending.

As I have said, while the daily routine of prisoners will be carefully planned, Auckland Women’s will motivate prisoners to change their behaviour as well.

They will be encouraged and expected to get to their employment on time, attend rehabilitative programmes and visit the site’s health facilities when needed.

This is not to say that prisoners will be wandering around the facility as they please.

It will provide an incentive-based system, where good behaviour and a determination to improve are rewarded. Equally, bad behaviour will be dealt with using appropriate sanctions.

Employment initiatives, such as the textiles workshop operating on this site, will provide prisoners with employment skills, training and formal qualifications and help them find work on release from prison.

They form part of the new Prisoner Employment Strategy, which we announced a little over a month ago.

Getting prisoners working is a central plank of the government's determined drive to incentivise prisoners to stay away from crime.

The strategy will ensure prisoners receive quality employment opportunities tailored to market needs, and will deliver meaningful skills and training. There is, after all, a skill shortage in many areas of the economy.

As prisoners near their date of release, they will also have a team of people working with them to ensure they are as prepared as possible to adjust to life beyond this facility.

I would like to acknowledge Corrections staff. You have an incredibly important role to play in helping prisoners become productive members of the community.

I know it’s not an easy job, but it is a vital one. Thank you for your ongoing contribution and commitment.

To conclude, I would like to emphasise that today is not a cause for celebration.

I do believe Auckland Women's can do more than just remove the liberty of 286 women. It will, I am confident, provide the type of environment that gives these women the opportunity to turn their lives around.

This will be a major step towards reducing our prison population to reach our ultimate goal, which is to increase the number of New Zealanders working and contributing to a vibrant inclusive society.

We all have a task ahead of us. With the help of this facility I'm sure we can make great strides towards achieving this goal.

Thank you.