In 2017, the New Zealand Department of Corrections launched its inaugural women’s strategy, Wāhine – E rere ana ki te pae hou - Women Rising Above the Horizon, as a means to identify and respond to the unique needs of women in prison, recognising that women’s presentations and pathways to offending differ from men’s.
Our refreshed strategy (2021-2025) seeks to strengthen gender-responsive and trauma-informed care to women in New Zealand’s prisons, and aligns to Hōkai Rangi, the Department’s overall strategy to address the overrepresentation of Māori.
This presentation highlights how purposeful investment in a gender and culturally responsive, trauma-informed model within the prison environment has led to positive transformation. This includes the introduction of full body scanning technology, responsive custodial staff learning and development pathways, and the establishment of a new position of Deputy Commissioner Women’s prisons to support the women’s prisons as a network.
Additionally, we will highlight the successful uptake of gender specific programmes across our health service, including Mental Health and Addictions treatment, Psychology and Programmes, and primary healthcare. These programmes ensure we work together to meet the distinct needs of women in their addiction recovery and treatment journeys. We will also showcase the successful rollout of our 2023 National Cervical Screening Programme, with New Zealand prisons offering the self-tests as the primary screening for human papillomavirus (HPV), increasing screening rates and addressing equity in the prison setting.
Challenges, lessons learnt, and responses to these initiatives will be discussed and shared.
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Kym Grierson
Deputy Commissioner Women's Prisons, Ara Poutama | Department of Corrections, New Zealand
Kym Grierson is the Deputy Commissioner Women’s Prisons, a role established in April 2024. Kym joined the Department of Corrections in 2010 as a Programme Facilitator. Other roles she has held throughout the course of her career with Corrections include Principal Facilitator, Assistant Prison Director, General Manager Integrated Practice, and Workstream Co-lead – Women’s Strategy.
Kym oversees the safe, fair, and humane management of women in New Zealand’s prisons. This includes direct line management of the General Managers for our three women’s prisons – Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility, Arohata Prison (in Wellington), and Christchurch Women’s Prison.
Her role helps to strengthen the connection between frontline operations and stewardship of the national prison network. Kym plays an important role in the strategic direction of Wāhine: E Rere Ana Ki te Pae Hou - our Women’s Strategy.
A key focus for Kym is the continued development and delivery of policy, process, practice, programmes and services designed to respond to the unique needs of women in prison.
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Ben Storey
Chief Nurse - Director Physical Health, Ara Poutama | Department of Corrections, New Zealand
Benjamin (Ben) Storey is Chief Nurse and Director Physical Health for New Zealand’s Department of Corrections.
Born in the United Kingdom, Ben joined Corrections in 2020 following an extensive career within the health sector, namely within acute care environments. He played a leading role in Corrections’ response to COVID-19 and subsequently on-going business continuity planning and pandemic response management.
He has been fortunate to work across the globe, having spent time working in West Africa, North Queensland, and New Zealand. He now combines his passion for acute and primary healthcare services by translating strategy into outcomes focused operational practice.
His current focus is to support and strengthen the delivery of primary healthcare services in New Zealand’s prisons. He is passionate about delivering equitable health outcomes for Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous population.
