Waikeria Prison useful information
Contact Details
Address:
Physical address:
Waikeria Road
16km south of Te Awamutu (south of Kihikihi)
Access is only from Waikeria Road. If you are visiting someone at Waikeria Prison, press the intercom at the prison entrance on Waikeria Road.
To locate on google maps click here
Postal address:
Private Bag 2400
Te Awamutu 3840
Phone: +64 7 872 6700
You are able to email a person located at Waikeria Prison. The email address is eprisonerwie@corrections.govt.nz
In the subject line type in the person’s full name and their PRN if you have this. The PRN is the unique number that each prisoner has. The prisoner will be able to provide this to you.
All emails are read prior to being given to the person. There are strict rules on language and content. Any email that does not meet the criteria for decency will not be given to the person inside. A warning will also be provided to you that if further inappropriate content is found in emails then you will no longer be allowed to send emails.
Please note the person inside cannot email you back. They can however write to you and are provided limited supplies each week to do this.
Mailing Address
To write to someone in Waikeria Prison, address the envelope as per below.
Prisoner’s Name
Private Bag 2400
Te Awamutu 3840
Visits
Visit times are different depending on which unit the person might be in. Visit times also change regularly so it is advised to contact the prison to ask for visitation times for the unit your person is in.
To visit, visitors must have a visit time booked with the prison and a letter from the prison confirming this visiting time. Visitors will be asked by staff to produce their letter of approval on arrival as well as a form of identification i.e. passport, birth certificate.
Other arrangements can be made to visit in special circumstances. Please phone the prison and request if this is required.
Visits are held in an open space with tables joined together around the sides of the room. Prisoners sit on the side of the tables facing the walls, while visitors sit on the side of the table facing the middle of the room. There is no separate area for children. Booth visits are held in a different area.
All cars including possessions and visitors entering the prison grounds for visits can be searched at any time. Please remember no cell phones / ipads / computers are allowed on prison property. These must remain in your vehicle.
Clothing
Prisoners at Waikeria are supplied a standard set of clothing from the prison. These include shorts, trackpants, t-shirts, sweatshirts and jandals. They are also allowed to receive a limited amount of regular clothing to wear. If a prisoner would like to have you send in regular clothes they must get a list of items of clothing they want signed off by a prison officer and sent by the prisoner to you before they can receive clothing from you. Please note clothing must be only black, white or gray. There must be no logos or any other colour on the clothing/shoes i.e. stitching must also be black, white or gray.
All clothing or other items (except phone cards) cannot be taken to the Waikeria prison.
Prisoners are not allowed to wear their own clothes or prison issued clothing during visitation, instead they are required to wear bright orange overalls at this time.
Money
Prisoners are able to receive money into their trust account to buy items such as soap, toothpaste and other canteen supplies. Money can be dropped off at reception desk when you sign in for a visit, or by electronic transfer online.
The trust bank account details are: 03-0442-0141273-00.
You will need to type in the prisoners PRN and name into the reference section.
Phone cards
Waikeria prison uses the SPARK prepaid phone cards (must have a gold chip). These can be brought at retail outlets including service stations, supermarkets, transport centres, bookshops, tourist operators and dairies. Please note not all stores stock the SPARK prepaid phone cards cards, however the small dairy in Kihikihi does keep a small supply.
Phone cards can be taken and left at the visitation centre desk on arrival for your visit. They can also be sent into the prison by the postal address above.
Other items
Books and magazines can be sent in at any time to the Waikeria prison. Other items such as an alarm clock, electric jug, lamp, radio /CD player may also be allowed if requested by the prisoner and approved by the prison. You will receive a signed form from the prison stating what items can be sent in. The prisoner will have been provided details of what they can request in their orientation guide to the prison.
Organisations that can support you around Waikeria
PARS Waikato Support and practical assistance to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their whanau in the Waikato
There are other New Zealand wide organisations that may also be able to provide support. Click here to be taken to the New Zealand Support Organisations page.
More general information is available on our What do I do now page