New Zealand has one of the highest imprisonment rates in the OECD. Prisoners have complex health needs — high rates of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, and chronic disease. Prison health funding supports health services in prisons and reintegration into community health. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Te Whatu Ora provides health services in prisons through the Prison Health Service:
- Primary health care: GP and nursing services in prisons
- Mental health: Psychiatric and psychological services
- Addiction treatment: AOD services in prisons
- Chronic disease: Diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory management
- Oral health: Dental services in prisons
Corrections NZ manages rehabilitation programmes:
- Rehabilitation programmes: Violence prevention, drug and alcohol, thinking skills
- Education and training: Vocational training in prisons
- Reintegration: Through-the-gate support on release
- Cultural programmes: Te Ao Māori and Pacific cultural support
Gaming trusts fund prison-related community services:
- Four Winds Foundation: Reintegration and community support
- Grassroots Trust: Community rehabilitation services
- Pub Charity: Reintegration support programmes
- Lion Foundation: Community health and reintegration
Gaming trust prison health applications:
- Reintegration housing support
- Community mental health on release
- Substance use support in community
- Families of prisoners support
Creative arts in corrections:
- Arts Access Aotearoa: Arts in prison and justice
- Creative NZ: Arts programme funding in correctional settings
- Volunteering NZ: Volunteer arts in prisons
Arts programmes in prisons have evidence for reducing recidivism and improving mental health.
Māori overrepresentation in prison:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori reintegration and criminal justice equity
- Kaupapa Māori justice: Cultural approaches to rehabilitation
- Tikanga Māori: Cultural programmes in corrections
- Te Ao Māori: Cultural identity as protective factor against recidivism
Prisoners' families:
- Strengthening Families: Whānau support
- Family violence: Families of prisoners and family violence links
- Children of prisoners: Child wellbeing for families with incarcerated parents
Community reintegration:
- Housing: Transitional housing on release — key determinant of recidivism
- Employment: Employment support on release
- Mental health: Community mental health continuation
- AOD: Addiction treatment continuity on release
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Health outcomes: Mental health, addiction, and chronic disease in custodial setting
- Reintegration: Reduced reoffending through health and social support
- Equity: Māori and Pacific over-representation in criminal justice
- Continuity: Prison-to-community care pathways
- Families: Support for children and families of prisoners
- Evidence base: Rehabilitation programmes with evidence of effectiveness
- Through-the-gate: Services starting before release and continuing after
Tahua's grants management platform helps criminal justice health organisations manage grant applications across Te Whatu Ora, Corrections, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking health, rehabilitation, and reintegration outcomes.