The head of Corrections has apologised to MPs for a prison mail botch-up relating to the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Corrections chief executive Christine Stevenson has apologised to MPs for the error. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch
An independent review was ordered after the man accused of the shootings was allowed to send two letters from his prison cell that should have been blocked.
Appearing before Parliament's Justice Select Committee today, Corrections chief executive Christine Stevenson apologised to MPs for the error and described it as an operational matter.
Speaking afterwards to media, she said she was keeping the Corrections Minister informed of the inmate - sometimes on a daily basis.
"I'm quite limited in what I can say - so what I would like to say is that we are managing this prisoner under the Corrections Act as we are obliged to do - with great care," she said.
Meanwhile, Justice Ministry chief executive Andrew Kibblewhite told the committee it had been a challenging year, with the mosque attacks putting pressure on Christchurch's Justice Precinct.
He said there have also been infrastructure issues around the country, including the recent closure of the Levin courthouse for earthquake strengthening.