Auckland Prison (Paremoremo) useful information
Contact Details
Address:
Physical address:
Paremoremo Road
Paremoremo
Auckland 0632
To locate on google maps click here
Postal address:
Private Bag 50124
Albany, North Shore
Auckland 0752
Phone: (09) 442 6600
You are able to email a person located at Auckland Prison. The email address is eprisonerauckland@corrections.govt.nz
In the subject line type in the person’s full name and their Person Record Number (PRN) if you have this. same number is used each time a person goes to prison.
All emails are read prior to being given to the person. There are strict rules on language and content i.e. no swear words, no gang related content. Any email that does not meet the criteria will not be given to the person inside. A warning will also be sent to you that states if they find further inappropriate content on other emails from you then you will no longer be allowed to send emails.
Please note the person inside cannot email you back.
Mailing Address
To write to someone in Auckland Prison, address the envelope as per below.
Prisoner’s Name, PRN
Private Bag 50124
Albany, North Shore
Auckland 0752
Visits
People inside Auckland Prison are entitled to:
1 x 2 hour visit with up to 3 adults (Adult Visits).
1 x 2 hour visit with up to 3 adults and up to 5 children (Family Visits).
Visits to Auckland prison are only on the weekend from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm. Visits may sometimes be organised during the week. If you need to arrange this (i.e. travelling from out of town) please talk to the staff. If you cannot travel to Auckland Prison, a video link may be arranged if approved by staff where you can attend a Corrections centre (i.e. probation centre) in your area.
The Wahi Patai (visitor’s centre) is open from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. To book a visit call 0800 256 566
Please note that bookings for weekend visits must be made by 4 pm on the Wednesday before.
When visiting, visitors must have a visit time booked with the prison and a letter from the prison confirming this time. Visitors will be asked by staff to produce a form of identification i.e. passport, birth certificate.
Any children or young person under 18 years of age must be with an approved adult visitor. You will need to show your Child Visitor Approval Notification letter when you sign in for the visit.
When visiting you must to be at Auckland Prison 30 minutes before hand to make sure you can get a visit. You will not be allowed a visit if you arrive too late to complete screening.
When you arrive at the prison, you need to come through the boom gate (tell the person through the speaker system at the gate that you are here for a visit. They may ask you what unit the person is in.) When through the gate drive into the visitors car park on the right side of the road. The Wahi Patai (visitors centre) is at the end of the car park (opposite end to the boom gate).
On arrival you check in at the reception counter in the Wahi Patai and will be given a key to lock your personal belongings in a small locker. Once you have locked your items in the locker you return the key to the counter and they will give you a plastic tag. On leaving after the visit, you swap the plastic tag back for your key to the locker. Note the locker isn’t big so leave handbag etc in the car.
When you attend the first time you will have your photo taken and will be asked to provide a finger print. These are used when you go through the security screening before you enter the prison visit centre.
Auckland Prison has a small cafe with hot drinks, and a small variety of food i.e. sandwiches, muffins which you can buy while you wait. Prices are reasonable.
After registering at the Wahi Patai, you will wait till all are called to go to the Kuhu Mai (Gatehouse). This is where screening takes place. Like at an airport you remove your shoes and go through a screening booth. Once inside and the glass door is shut you need to follow the prompts and scan your finger. When it recognises you it will open the door on the other side. An officer will then scan you with a wand.
There is a manea stone on the left hand side before you enter the screening booth. There is a sign above the manea stone what says that the stone has healing properties and takes the negative energy into the mauri stone which is buried under the prison. People are encouraged to touch the manea. You will however need to do this before you enter the screening booth as you do not come back out this way after the visit.
When all people are scanned, you are led across to the Visits centre where you will wait for a short time before being allowed into the visiting area.
As with all prisons there are rules what you can or cannot bring into the prison site.
- No cigarettes or smoking
- No drugs
- No alcohol
- No weapons
- No dogs
- No bags
- No cell phones
- No food or drink
In addition, Auckland prison does not allow people to wear any jewellery apart from a wedding ring. It is best to leave these in your car or your locker so that you are not stopped at the screening booth.
Note: All cars including possessions and visitors entering the prison grounds for visits can be searched at any time.
Clothing
Clothing and other requested items can be dropped in to the Auckland Prison Wahi Patai when you visit for a person inside. The clothing and items must be accompanied by a Property Form that is signed off by a Prison manager or PCO. These will not be accepted if you do not have a Property Form. .
If you do not live in Auckland or are unable to drop items into the receiving office, you can courier or post the items to Auckland Prison.
Money
Prisoners are able to receive money into their trust account to buy items such as soap, toothpaste and other canteen supplies. The Trust account is limited to $200 and prisoners are only allowed to spend $70 per week on supplies.
Money can be deposited into the prison trust account by electronic transfer online or paid by card at reception desk when you sign in for a visit.
Electronic Transfer
The trust bank account details are: 03-1322-0016982-00
You will need to type in the prisoners PRN and name into the reference section.
Money needs to be deposited by Wednesday for the following week’s canteen.
Phone calls
The person in prison can request approval for a set number of phone numbers that they can ring. This may take several weeks to set up. All prisoners are allowed free 10 minute calls to NZ numbers, and also overseas (up to 30 minutes per week). Note that it can be difficult for the person to set up regular times they can phone you. Lock up hours may change due to various reasons. There may also be a queue for the phone.
Other Items
People held in Auckland Prison may also be allowed to have other items. These have to be requested by the prisoner on a Property Form signed off by a prison manager or PCO. Items may include:
- a radio/CD or tape player
- flask
- a fan
- a limited number of books and magazines
- religious material
Corrections encourages people to study as this reduces the likelihood of someone coming back to prison. Before study can commence the prisoner needs to fill out a property form and have the study material approved before it can be sent to or delivered to Auckland Prison.
Organisations that can support you in Auckland
Te Pa (used to be called PARS) provides practical assistance to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their whanau in Auckland
Pillars (Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou) is a charity that actively supports the tamariki and whānau of people in prison or those serving a community-based sentence.
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.