New Zealand Corrections Minister Anne Tolley on October 25th said that Auckland Prison's maximum security wing is to be completely rebuilt using a design, build, finance and maintain model under a Public Private Partnership (PPP).The rebuilt wing will provide a secure, safe and modern facility which will deliver improved mental health services. The Project is scheduled to open in mid-2017.The Department will sign an estimated 25-year contract with the successful consortium. The contract will include a series of key performance indicators, and payments can be withheld if these targets are not met.

Mrs Tolley said:

"The maximum security wing at Auckland Prison is the only one of its kind in the country, and it houses New Zealand's most difficult and dangerous prisoners, as well as a number of prisoners with high and complex needs. The current prison is 45 years old and expensive to maintain"

"The new building will house a mental health unit for prisoners with severe to moderate needs, which will provide care to offenders who currently have to be transferred off-site. This, in turn, will ease pressure on the Mason Clinic.

Mrs Tolley said the PPP will also allow Corrections to select the best ideas from the private sector, to inject world-class innovation and fresh thinking in to the way we build and maintain prison property.

Corrections is seeking Expressions of Interest from consortia wishing to take part in the PPP. The deadline for submissions of proposals is 25 November 2013.

See Tender: http://www.gets.govt.nz/Default.aspx?show=BasicTenders&Nav=ATenders

The new wing will be built on prison land alongside the existing facility, which will continue to operate until the new building is complete. Capacity will remain at 260 beds, with work on the new facility scheduled to begin by mid-2015.

The public-private partnership contract that is expected to be worth more than NZ$200 million.

In September last year, a consortium led by Fletcher Building won a NZ$300 million PPP contract to construct a new 960-bed facility at Wiri, in South Auckland, due to open in 2015.