Minister of Corrections (New Zealand)

The Minister of Corrections in a minister in the New Zealand Government appointed by the Prime Minister to be in charge of the Department of Corrections. The current Minister of Corrections is Mark Mitchell.^[2]

Minister of Corrections
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Incumbent Mark Mitchell since 27 November 2023
Department of Corrections
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet of New Zealand Executive Council
Reports to	Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer	Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	1995
First holder	Doug Graham
Salary	$288,900[1]
Website	www.beehive.govt.nz

History

Prior to 1995 the country's prisons, probation system and the courts were all managed by the Department of Justice and overseen by the Minister of Justice. The Department of Corrections was formed in 1995 by the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995.^[3] A separate ministerial portfolio for corrections was created on 1 October 1995 and was initially assigned to the incumbent justice minister, Doug Graham.^[4]

Responsibilities

The Minister of Corrections is responsible for determining policy and exercising statutory powers and functions related to the Corrections portfolio. The Minister is also responsible to Parliament for ensuring the Department of Corrections carries out its functions properly and efficiently.

Legislation related to the Corrections portfolio includes the Corrections Act 2004 (and accompanying regulations in the Corrections Regulations 2005), the Criminal Justice Act 1985, the Parole Act 2002, and the Sentencing Act 2002.

The Minister of Corrections is also responsible for:

• Giving general directions to the Chief Executive of the Department relating to the exercise of their powers and functions.
• Any other powers and functions conferred under the Corrections Act 2004 or regulations made under it.
• Setting pay rates for part-time probation officers.
• Declaring land or buildings to be a prison or community work centre.
• Requisitioning land and buildings in an emergency.
• Approving pay rates for working prisoners.
• Setting the cost of imprisonment so it can be deducted from the earnings of prisoners on "release to work".
• Consenting to the Chief Executive contracting out escort and courtroom custodial services.

List of ministers

The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Corrections.

Key

  Labour   National   Alliance

No.		Name	Portrait	Term of Office		Prime Minister
	1	Doug Graham		1 October 1995	1 March 1996		Bolger
	2	Paul East		1 March 1996	8 December 1997
	3	Nick Smith		8 December 1997	1 February 1999		Shipley
	4	Clem Simich		1 February 1999	10 December 1999
	5	Matt Robson		10 December 1999	15 August 2002		Clark
	6	Mark Gosche		15 August 2002	19 May 2003
	7	Paul Swain		19 May 2003	19 October 2005
	8	Damien O'Connor		19 October 2005	2 November 2007
	9	Phil Goff		5 November 2007	19 November 2008
	10	Judith Collins		19 November 2008	12 December 2011		Key
	11	Anne Tolley		12 December 2011	8 October 2014
	12	Sam Lotu-Iiga		8 October 2014	14 December 2015
	(10)	Judith Collins		14 December 2015	20 December 2016
	13	Louise Upston		20 December 2016	26 October 2017		English
	14	Kelvin Davis		26 October 2017	27 November 2023		Ardern
							Hipkins
	15	Mark Mitchell		27 November 2023	present		Luxon