Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:652;Page:1749] 
3.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does she agree with the reported comment from Te Warena Taua who chaired a group representing six iwi in a formal relationship with Australasian Correctional Management that under a “contract with a private provider we have seen more progress and innovation in a prison than we have seen in decades from the public prison service”; and what factors can she suggest have led to this? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Yes. Under the contract the private provider was required to establish a relationship with iwi whanui which is the representative group that has been referred to. The private management of prisons does lead to innovation in management. This is a good example of where innovation has occurred. Since then the department has established similar relationships with other kaitiaki groups in the four new facilities commissioned since the Auckland Central Remand Prison. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Has she seen the legal opinion from Jack Hodder of Chapman Tripp that handing an exclusive monopoly to the Public Prisons Service to manage all prisons: “will leave only a peripheral role for Maori service providers in relation to prison management and operations“; and how will the private management of prisons improve opportunities for Maori to participate in the management of prisons? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: No. However I am informed by the department that the opinion was provided by the iwi to the select committee that considered the previous Government‘s legislation abolishing privately run prisons. The contract management of prisons will seek providers who are efficient effective and innovative. The contractual process will provide ample opportunity for potential contractors including Maori providers to demonstrate these qualities. The department will be considering the inclusion of effectiveness measures to ensure improved outcomes for Maori offenders in any proposed contracts with successful tenderers. 
Simon Bridges 
: Has she seen any other reports on the private management of prisons? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Yes. I have seen a report in which the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Phil Goff appears to endorse the private management of prisons. He said: “The point I am making is that it does not matter a damn whether one has private or public prisons in that sense. What really matters is the way in which those prisons are operated.” 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Has the Minister seen a report in  
The Economist 
 of 28 February where in Florida two judges have been charged with accepting kickbacks from a private correctional facility firm in order to sentence juvenile offenders to prison on extremely minor offences; if so what action will she be taking to make sure that no such misuse can occur in New Zealand? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Yes and Florida is a long way away from here. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does she agree with Iwi Whanui o Tamaki-makau-rau that the previous Government’s failure to renew the Auckland Central Remand Prison contract and prohibiting any further contracts like it put ideology ahead of the best interests of inmates and Maori and how does she believe the ideology of private management can support Maori aspirations? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Yes. Private prison management provides an opportunity for innovation in service delivery which will support better outcomes for Maori and the public. Provisions will also be able to be included in contracts for each prison to respond to unique needs or concerns of iwi in an area.