OFFICE OF THE INSPECTORATE Te Tari Tirohia

22 September 2026

The Office of the Inspectorate today released its inspection report for Rangiora Unit, which is gazetted as part of Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility (ARWCF).

At the time of the inspection, the unit had 70 women prisoners. The unit is in the Waikato region and used to be part of Waikeria Prison. Corrections opened the unit for women in May 2025 due to population pressures at ARWCF and across the women’s prison network. It is around 150km from ARWCF, or approximately a two-hour drive by road.

“Compared to most prisoners across New Zealand, all prisoners at Rangiora were accommodated in single cells, and received considerable time (that is, around 10 hours a day) out of their cells, which I consider to be beneficial,” said Chief Inspector Janis Adair. “A range of constructive activities, including employment in prison industries for around 20 women, was being provided.”

However, some women wanted better access to structured programmes, especially cultural and rehabilitation programmes, and education and work training opportunities that would help them to get parole or find jobs on release.

“It was pleasing to note that women at Rangiora had good access to primary healthcare through the on-site Health team and the Medical Officer,” said Ms Adair.

At the time of the inspection, in February 2026, Rangiora Unit was under the management of the General Manager of ARWCF (based in Auckland), with experienced on-site leaders. The unit had some shared services with Waikeria Prison, as well as receiving some services and support from ARWCF staff who travelled from Auckland.

The women were required to travel to Auckland for any external health and dental appointments. Some told us they had refused, or would refuse, these appointments due to the requirement to travel. We were concerned that some women may be missing out on important and/or timely healthcare interventions.

The women also had to travel to Auckland for court appearances, whether in-person or via audio-visual link (AVL) from ARWCF, because there were no AVL courtroom facilities at Rangiora Unit.

“We recognise the prison population pressures that resulted in Corrections having to re-open the unit, but nevertheless, Corrections must do more to ensure the range of opportunities and services that would usually be available to the women at another prison site are also available at Rangiora,” said Ms Adair.

The Office of the Inspectorate is a critical part of the independent oversight of the Corrections system and operates under the Corrections Act 2004 and the Corrections Regulations 2005. While part of Corrections, the Inspectorate is operationally independent, to ensure objectivity and integrity.

The inspection process provides an ongoing insight into prisons and provides assurance that shortcomings are identified and addressed in a timely way, and that examples of good practice are acknowledged and shared across the prison network.