9. Question No. 9—CorrectionsHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of CorrectionsQuestion No. 9—Corrections9. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Corrections: Does he agree with the reported statement of the Chief Ombudsman following his report initiated after the Waikeria Prison riot Corrections was being defensive risk averse and believed it had made changes when there was no evidence of it on the ground"; if not why not?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Corrections): I think it's important to remember that prisons aren't an ordinary work environment. We need to be realistic about the serious challenges and risks front-line staff are managing every day. Any change needs to be made with the safety of staff and prisoners front of mind. I agree that it can take time in an organisation as large as this for changes to be made from top to bottom and I've expressed that I think progress on recommendations on the ground should be faster. Safety and the humane treatment of prisoners are not mutually exclusive which is why Corrections has acknowledged that it can do more and that is why they have accepted all of the Ombudsman's recommendations made of them which I'm supportive of.Hon Mark Mitchell: Does the Chief Ombudsman's concern about a divide between senior leadership and the front line at Corrections include him?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I absolutely back our staff on the front line and acknowledge the challenging work that they do. I think the reality is that with a large operational agency there's always a challenge to face in how the central leadership and the front-line staff are linked.Hon Mark Mitchell: How can Kiwis have any confidence in his leadership of Corrections when the Chief Ombudsman says that Corrections accepted most of the recommendations yet the riots occurred?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: First of all I don't think it's helpful to speculate on what would've changed the behaviour of the rioters. Ultimately it was unacceptable and endangered staff other prisoners and themselves. But a number of changes were made immediately as a result of that Ombudsman's report in 2020. There was an ongoing programme of maintenance of cells. The yards were being checked daily for damage. There was increased resourcing in the property area. There was development of consistent streamlined procedures for ordering and managing prisoners' clothing. They were providing prisoners with additional food and additional food to prisoners with their evening meals. So there were a number of changes that were made as a result of the August 2020 report but ultimately it's pointless speculating on what might have changed the behaviour of those rioters.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why after six years of his leadership is the Chief Ombudsman reporting that because Corrections have been too slow to act the fair treatment and rights of prisoners have unfortunately been the collateral damage?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I disagree with much of that but I have expressed that I think the recommendations made by the Ombudsman should've been implemented faster. I've continuously expressed that to the leadership of Corrections.Hon Mark Mitchell: What does he say to the Chief Ombudsman who said "I was concerned to find that people I interviewed during the course of my investigation consistently described a divided organisation and a pattern of disconnection at all levels mainly between front-line prison staff and head office."?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I have made my expectations clear but like I say with an organisation as large as Corrections it is possible that there is a gap between those in head office and those working on the front line. But I also have to say that despite the fact that I would like the pace of change to be quicker there has still been a large number of changes made. In fact there are six organisations that have oversight of Corrections and since October 2017 there have been almost 3000 recommendations made of which over 80 percent have been completed.Hon Mark Mitchell: How embarrassing is it for the Minister that the Corrections union is presenting pens to guests inscribed with "Where's Kelvin?"?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: How embarrassing is it for the spokesperson for the Opposition that in all the time that he's been the spokesperson this is the first question he's asked me and secondly where was he at Estimates?Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table this pen from the Corrections Association of New Zealand inscribed "Where's Kelvin?"Hon Kelvin Davis: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: No no no I don't need that.Hon Kelvin Davis: Well I just wanted to make the point—SPEAKER: Well no no no—no sit down. Anything with writing on it can be tabled with the agreement of the House. The member needs to tell me when it was published.Hon Mark Mitchell: Mr Speaker all I can tell you is that it's not readily available to the public; it's only given to people that front up to the Corrections union.SPEAKER: OK well I hope we're not starting a new trend of tabling all kinds and all manner of things. However I'll put the leave. Leave has been sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? No.Leave received to table object."