New Zealand

Phones, computers for private cells

12:53 pm on 6 May 2015

Phones and computers are going to be in every standard cell in the new privately run prison in South Auckland, Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

The Wiri facility is being officially opened on Friday.

Prisoners will be able to make telephone calls to a list of pre-approved numbers and cells will have TV screens which also function as computers, where they can work on their studies and book appointments.

Mr Lotu-Iiga said this could lead to the same technology in other prisons.

"I'm keen to see how it does reduce tension, I'm keen to see how the computers themselves improve educational outcomes and skills," he said.

"Certainly I'm open to looking at rolling these out across the whole public system."

Prisoners had a better chance of finding work outside of prison if they had more access to educational tools, Mr Lotu-Iiga said.