A National-led government would allow competitive tendering for the management of prisons on a case-by-case basis, National Party leader John Key said yesterday.
Speaking in Christchurch, Mr Key outlined measures he would introduce to boost the number of prisoners learning industry-based skills and double those receiving intensive drug and alcohol treatment.
But it is the private management of some New Zealand prisons that will receive the most opposition from his opponents on the left.
The Corrections Department would attract attention from a National-led government, Mr Key said.
The past decade had seen New Zealanders' confidence in Corrections challenged.
There had been too many examples of poor management, and of Corrections acting without regard for the safety of the public.
"There is also widespread public scepticism resulting from facilities such as underfloor heating and flat-screen televisions now available to prisoners, especially in the new prisons.
"The National Party believes prisoners should be treated humanely, but that prison facilities should be in keeping with public expectations, reflecting the fact that prisoners are paying a debt to society."
There were some elements of his announcement that will find favour with possible coalition partners, particularly the Maori Party and United Future, around rehabilitation and drug and alcohol treatment.
"At present, 43% of all prisoners and 65% of those under 20 reoffend within a year of release, and we must do more to change that.
For too many criminals, a prison sentence is just an enforced career break.
"It's a waste of taxpayer money to let these people serve their time without challenging them to change their behaviour, only to release them and then throw them back into prison again when they reoffend."
Those comments were timed perfectly as Mr Key followed up on concerns shown by leaders of the minor parties in Parliament in the Television New Zealand debate on Monday night.
United Future leader Peter Dunne, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia, Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Progressive leader Jim Anderton all called for rehabilitation and training of prisoners, particularly young men who had difficulties with numeracy and literacy.
Act New Zealand leader Rodney Hide persisted with his "three strikes and you're out" policy, but also recognised the need for reducing the prison population by helping at-risk children from an early age.
Mrs Turia was keen to get help for young Maori men with drug and alcohol problems, as that was a particularly high prison demographic.
She wanted prisoners on release to find meaningful work; otherwise, they were at risk of reoffending.
Mr Key said if New Zealand wanted to reduce crime, imprisonment should not be seen as only a punishment, but also as an opportunity to rehabilitate a captive audience through work, drug and alcohol treatment and other programmes.
By 2011, National would boost the number of prisoners learning industry-based skills through Corrections inmate employment by 1000, at an estimated operating cost of $7 million.
That would boost the number of prisoners in skills-based work to 3500.
National was concerned at the lack of drug and alcohol treatment beds for prisoners, considering the strong link between crime and drug and alcohol problems.
National would double the number of prisoners who were able to receive such treatment to 1000 by 2011.
That would have an estimated operating cost of $3.4 million.
Corrections Minister Phil Goff said National's policy release on work and drug treatment in prisons failed to recognise huge progress over the past three years.
"In terms of drug treatment, Labour has increased drug and alcohol treatment units in prisons to six, allowing 500 inmates a year to access a six-month intensive treatment course," Mr Goff said.
Mr Goff said the shallowness of National's politicking was demonstrated by its criticism of underfloor heating.
"This is adopted in new constructions on the basis of the department's evidence that it is the most cost-effective and energy-efficient heating solution for concrete slab buildings, and offers no opportunity for damage by inmates."
