Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:633;Page:4553] 
12.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he have confidence in his department; if so why? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Acting Minister of Corrections) 
: Yes but there is always room for improvement. 
Simon Power 
: Why has the Minister failed to comment on the fact that a prisoner is writing about life behind bars on a weblog when on the one hand his chief executive’s response has been “so what” yet on the other hand the Prime Minister has felt the need to wade into the issue by stating her concern that: “It raises a whole new set of issues.”; who does the Minister agree with—the chief executive officer of his department or the Prime Minister? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: As the member knows this is an operational matter. But I will say that prisoners are encouraged to write to friends families and associates and they do not have direct access to the Internet as the member knows. The Department of Corrections has the ability under the Corrections Act to vet letters and it does. The prisoner’s observations of prison life as recorded on the website do not breach the Act. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Has the Minister seen any reports about the effectiveness of corrections officers? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: Yes I have. As reported in the  
New Zealand Herald  
on Saturday corrections officers at Auckland prison did an excellent job of preventing an attempted escape by a group of prisoners. Also a search of other prisons revealed a number of contraband items. This is an example of the success of Department of Corrections staff and their effectiveness in keeping society safe. 
Simon Power 
: Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister’s statement: “It used to be that when you were put away you were put away from society.” or that of the chief executive officer of the Department of Corrections: “Unless he actually does anything illegal by way of content or sends the letters to someone he shouldn’t then we don’t have a problem.”; who does the Minister agree with—the chief executive officer of the Department of Corrections or the Prime Minister? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: As the member should know people who are in prison are out of society. Has he not noticed that? The statement made by the chief executive officer of the Department of Corrections was quite simple—prisoners do have the ability to write to people outside prison. What does the member not understand about that? 
Keith Locke 
: Would it improve prisoner rehabilitation if more inmates followed Tim Selwyn’s example by practising and improving their creative literary skills; and is it not the case that no good Government should in any way be scared of inmates bringing to public attention prison problems that need to be fixed? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: My understanding is that Mr Selwyn is very creative. 
Simon Power 
: Can the Minister confirm that a blog has been used to criticise a sentencing judge claiming an inmate was the victim of “bad luck”; and how does he think victims would feel if a convicted murderer was allowed to say such things publicly? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I was not aware of that particular statement but if the member wants to put it down in writing I will certainly give him a written response. 
Simon Power 
: Is the Minister familiar with the department’s policy of restricting media access to prisoners unless they obtain the written approval of the chief executive and as long as prison security or victims’ interests are not compromised; if so why is his department so out of touch that it continues to treat blog instalments as private letters when they are clearly intended for public audiences? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: As the member should know no one is free to move in and out of prison at will; they must seek the approval of the Department of Corrections. What does the member not understand about that either? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I refer you to Speaker’s ruling 157/1: “A Minister must attempt to give a reasonable answer to a question.” My colleague asked a question quite specifically about blogging by prisoners in the Minister’s department. The Minister gave a completely irrelevant answer that had nothing to do with the use of electronics in communicating with the general public. I think you should require him to address the question that was raised by my colleague Mr Simon Power. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: If members would please lower their tone in the House it would be easy for me to hear the answers. I did not hear what the Minister said. I ask him to repeat his answer in the light of what has been said. 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: In response to the first part of the member’s question I point out that the media or any other members of the public are not free to enter and leave prisons at will. They must seek permission as is required under the Act. Secondly Mr Selwyn did not post anything on the Internet and the member knows that. 
Simon Power 
: I seek leave to ask the Minister again whether he agrees with the chief executive officer of the Department of Corrections or with the Prime Minister. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is a supplementary question? 
Simon Power 
: No I seek leave. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member has sought leave. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table Tim Selwyn’s blogs for the education of the National Party. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table the acknowledgments page of Nelson Mandela’s book  
Long Walk to Freedom 
—Dr Brash’s favourite book—in which he explains how he had to smuggle out of prison the notes for that book. Is that what the National Party wants to happen— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection.