Thank you for your question in regard to another prison being built in Manurewa.

There are a number of reasons why people are opposed to the prison, my own personal view on this is not the issue.

As an elected member representing the people of Manurewa I need to listen to what the majority want, and I would support that.

Personally I have several concerns over safety, when in discussions over the establishment of the Liquid Petroleum Gas facility I recall

the concerns expressed over allowing any residential buildings being built within 3-5 kilometres from the depot. Subsequently the Petroleum Storage

facility was built and many other industrial industries have been developed. Combining the industrial risk factors along with two correctional facilities already

established I can only hope that these factors are taken into account. The evacuation procedures for the safety of the residents would be a

 logistical nightmare.

I am opposed to the prison as it will have considerable socio-economic costs to Manurewa. I have been campaigning against the prison for the past 4 months, created www.stoptheprison.org.nz , been down at the markets collecting signatures and campaigned against the Womens prison in 2002 (see study I completed at website).

There is no need for the prison to been placed in Manurewa it should be placed at Paremoremo and the land for at the Womens prison developed for rehabilitation as originally planned.

We are looking for helpers on this issue.

Regards

Toa Greening

027 4393163

Dear George,

Greetings and glad you asked thsi question.

Stop The Prison

Team Manurewa along with community volunteers started sending petitions and signature campaign. The response to the petition has been very positive to date with over 500 signatures collected in opposition to building the new 1500 bed men’s prison in Manurewa. It is very obvious that many in our community oppose this prison. Below are some comments from residents who have signed the e-petition at www.stoptheprison.org.nz.

 “Manurewa already has a prison! One is enough for any area.”

 “Stop the prison in Manurewa! We are a positive community striving to do better for the future of our tamariki.”

 “What is this saying to our area\'s youth? Speak life into their futures- not a life sentence!”

 “Not all people in Manurewa think that we deserve to have another jail in the area. It is making us look like we are all criminals when it is just a minority of the people that are bringing south Auckland down not everyone.”

 “South Auckland is not a dumping ground for criminals”

 “We do not want another larger prison in Manurewa. There are plenty of alternative sites in rural NZ which would be far more suitable from a community and town planning perspective.”

“This is such a disgrace. There is enough crime in this area and we don\'t need to have a prison in this area ruining our community. Leave South Auckland the hell alone and go build your prison elsewhere and give us a chance to have a safe community here for once”

 There have been some general comments that this is a done deal, there is nothing we can do about it or even that we should welcome the prison. But what needs to be understood is that there are large costs to the community, which hosts any new prison. An international study characterised prisons into the following three categories.

Islands - These facilities are economically isolated from their host regions. They may employ and buy primarily from outside the region, thereby denying local residents many of the benefits of their physical presence.

Flagrant Defilers – These facilities may have harmful social effects. For instance they may contribute to decreased family or community cohesion, increased delinquency and crime, alcohol and drug abuse, or other bad habits.

Repellers – These facilities make it tougher for existing or prospective enterprises to operate in the same region, often because of the negative externalities described above.

The initial round of consultation has been completed and a notice send out by corrections refuted all public concerns, evidence and non-compliancy of the existing Women’s prison resource consent.  The Department of Corrections have the unlimited resources of our tax dollars to hire public relations, financial and legal experts to portray a positive picture of the Prison. This makes the Department of Corrections incredibly powerful but it does not make them right and we do not need to passively roll over and except this.

 “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” 

Elie Wiese

What you can do is find us at the Sunday Manurewa Markets and sign the petition. Go to the www.stoptheprison.org.nz, sign the e-petition, select the email link to send a message to the Minister of Corrections, contact our three local members of Parliament and ask them to do something about this.

The more people who protest against this prison the more notice the Department of Correction will take of our concerns.

Of course No to prison in Manurewa.

Other regions ae crying out to have this built in their region such as Turangi and it hsould be lcoated wher it is wanted.

Kia Ora George,

Thank for your question.  I am totally against the Prison being built in Manurewa.  I have signed the petition to indicate my strong stand; I will be voicing and seeking support of the Local Board and Councillor to make this stand if I am elected on the Local Board.

I am of a belief that the Prison will encourage associates of prisoners to move into Manurewa.  We have enough issues to deal with in our community let alone adding any more to it. I am passionate about safety of children and families in the home and in our public places another prison in Manurewa will only jeopardise our safety.  And in terms of Prisons; I don\'t think prisons have a success rate in stopping and reducing offending by prisoners.  These are not the type of people we would welcome into our community. 

We\'ve heard it many times voiced by professionals that \"past behaviours is an indication of future behaviour\"; I will also be working hard to ensure we as a responsive community have programmes to work alongside our current youths who are offending; inorder to steer our youths away from a life misery in prisons and to become good citizens of Manurewa and New Zealand.

Have a great day and thank you for taking the time to view my information.

Anahila Suisuiki

for Manurewa Local Board