Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:639;Page:9594] 
6.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he have confidence in his department; if so why? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Yes but there is always room for improvement. 
Simon Power 
: Can he confirm allegations that inmates working in the garage at Auckland prison service the cars of staff—including one staff member who got them to completely build up a vehicle from materials supplied by the department—in return for steaks and roasts and as well are allowed to do work on their own cars including the Mercedes of a drug dealer; and when will “deals for meals” cease? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I can confirm those allegations have been made. They are currently being investigated. At the end of that investigation we will work out whether they are true. 
Simon Power 
: Can he deny information received by my office regarding Auckland prison that one staff member took inmates to his home to help build a workshop and that another staff member took two inmates to his home to do a bit of work around the section? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am aware of these allegations. They are currently being investigated. At the outcome of those investigations appropriate action will be taken. 
Hon Paul Swain 
: Has the Minister seen any reports of Department of Corrections officers from Tongariro/Rangipo Prison getting inmates to panel beat their private vehicles between July and October 1999 when Nick Smith was the Minister; if he has seen those reports what advice does he have about what the then National Government did about it? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The record is clear that on the dates listed I was not the Minister of Corrections. I resigned as Minister of Corrections when I became Minister of Education in January of that year. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am aware of allegations and that the National Government did nothing following the proof of those allegations. 
Simon Power 
: Can he deny information received by my office regarding Auckland prison that an officer charged with investigating corruption in prisons got inmates to build him a mechanical spit-roast and that other staff members have had their boats including a 40-foot yacht—known throughout the prison as “HMS  
Corrections 
”—refitted in the prison workshop? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am aware of the first allegation. I am not aware of the details of the second allegation but they will be thoroughly investigated and if they are proven to be correct appropriate action will be taken. 
Simon Power 
: What does he say to Kevin McNeil the son of murder victim Lois Dear who has received death threats allegedly made from cellphones inside prison and why has his department allowed Mr McNeil to be re-victimised because it has failed to stop cellphones from being smuggled into prisons and has yet to introduce measures to block their signals? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am aware of that allegation. There has been no evidence at all that it did take place. I am aware that allegations of corruption are made by prisoners and by politicians every day. We do investigate those and where proven action is taken. It will be taken in this case if that member can front with any evidence that proves the situation. 
Simon Power 
: Can he confirm his response to written question No. 3408 that it was the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections who first raised the idea of a special unit to investigate corruption in prisons; if so why does Barry Matthews think an anti-corruption unit is necessary as part of this restructure if corruption is limited to in his words “a few bad apples”—about “five in the whole organisation”? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Yesterday Barry Matthews the chief executive announced a restructure of head office to include an investigation unit that will be answerable directly to him. It will be staffed with skilled people who are able to act immediately on any allegations made by prisoners or politicians; they will check out the validity of those claims so that action can be taken immediately. 
Ron Mark 
: Does the Minister not accept that the long-running list of allegations of inappropriate relationships between prison officers and inmates and the well-established record of a large amount of goods being smuggled into prisons even when National was in Government are proof and evidence that we are long overdue for the establishment of an internal investigation team that is independent that operates from head office that looks at all such instances impartially and that sees through the courts prosecutions by the police? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: It is difficult for the Department of Corrections like any large organisation to be perfect. Any political private or public organisation will from time to time have individuals who do not abide by the law or by the ethics and standards of that organisation. We are determined to make changes to ensure that we minimise any opportunity for that. This unit is one major improvement in that area and we will pursue through the courts any inappropriate behaviour. 
Simon Power 
: I seek leave to table a report from the  
Daily Post 
 on 30 January of this year where Steve Chadwick said: “We do need to clean up the corrections department.” 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.