The Waikeria Prison project began in July 2016 with a Prison Capacity Alternative Site Assessment to determine the most appropriate location for a proposed new prison facility in New Zealand's upper North Island. 

Throughout all stages of the project process, from initial scoping to detailed design, the focus was to ensure that the facility could be integrated into the existing rural landscape to minimise adverse effects on rural character and the visual amenity of neighbours, while also managing the expectations of tangata whenua and other stakeholders. The collective experience of Boffa Miskell’s landscape planning, cultural advisory and landscape architecture team with other projects of a similar nature ensured the response to the brief was sufficiently robust and appropriate to undergo detailed scrutiny by the Department, Regional and District Councils, stakeholders and the Environment Court.

 

The Waikeria Prison redevelopment integrates cultural responsiveness and reintegration through landscape design, ecological restoration, and Māori partnership. Collaborating with mana whenua and community groups, the project established a native nursery, involved prisoners in planting, and restored waterways—enhancing both biodiversity and rehabilitation. A culturally sensitive design framework ensured minimal visual impact and respected ancestral land. Led by Puniu River Care and guided by the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, the project fosters community connection, skills development, and post-release pathways. Waikeria exemplifies how corrections infrastructure can honour Indigenous values while supporting reintegration and environmental stewardship.