Waikeria Prison was the site of New Zealand's biggest prison riot when 17 inmates burned a high-security unit to the ground over new year 2020/21. A project to redevelop the prison was first announced in 2018 but the build has been delayed multiple times and it will now not be operational until 2025. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The completion date for a Waikato prison build has been pushed back yet again, meaning it will not house prisoners until 2025.
The Waikeria Prison redevelopment project was first announced in 2018 by then-Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis and was originally set to be finished by early 2022. It promised a 500-bed high security prison, and an additional 96 beds in a dedicated mental health and addiction facility.
However, the build has been delayed multiple times. The Department of Corrections has blamed global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and associated supply chain pressures.
Deputy chief executive infrastructure and digital assets Alastair Turrell said the latest completion date - the end of November next year - was agreed with the contractor in April.
"The contractor is confident that they will meet this completion date and this is supported by the Independent Reviewer who provides an independent review of the progress against programme each month," he said.
"Construction is progressing well with a significant workforce of around 800 contractors on site each working day. There are 28 separate buildings being constructed, some of which are essentially complete with the others at varying stages of completion, with internal fit outs, services and electronic security commissioning work underway. There is also further landscaping work to be completed, some of which cannot begin until building works are finished."
However, the new prison units would not be ready for use immediately after construction.
"Once construction has been completed, there will be a period of several months where we will complete testing and assurance activities to ensure the facility and our staff are operationally ready," Turrell said.
The facility is expected to be fully utilised by late 2025.
Climbing costs
The estimated capital cost for the Waikeria project was $814 million in 2017 - this had jumped to $890 million by November last year.
"Since that time, given the impacts of supply chain disruptions, resource constraints, and the associated construction cost escalations over recent years, an agreement was reached between Corrections and Cornerstone Infrastructure Partners on a supply chain support package to enable completion of the facility as soon as possible," Turrell said.
Corrections would not provide the latest costings for the project, citing "commercial sensitivities".
The project site is 21 hectares and includes 1.7 kilometres of secure perimeter fencing. The site was prepared for construction from late 2018 and piling began in May 2019. The new facilities are being developed next to the prison's existing accommodation units.
The project also includes a series of road safety enhancements on Waikeria Road and State Highway 3, to support higher levels of traffic to and from the prison.
Corrections' annual report for the 2022/23 financial year shows a budget of $700,000 for infrastructure improvements, but only $200,000 (excluding GST) of that was used, with the underspend "attributable to delays in the final resealing of the State Highway 3 overpass".
Waikeria was the site of New Zealand's biggest prison riot over the 2020/2021 new year period - 17 inmates burned a high-security unit to the ground, in protest over "inhumane" conditions.
