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Christchurch Men's Prison Redevelopment (PPP)
Department of Corrections / Southern Renewal Partners · Canterbury
Phase 1 of the Christchurch Men's Prison rebuild, contracted as a public-private partnership. The Crown signed with Southern Renewal Partners in July 2026 and reached financial close. It adds a 240-bed high-security unit, an Intervention and Support Building with 52 specialist mental health beds, a health centre and a receiving office. Budget 2025 set Phase 1 capital at $700-800m; the SRP construction contract is $440m. The partners build and maintain it while Corrections keeps running the prison. Facilities operational by mid-2030. The expansion has drawn protest, including a planned hikoi to Parliament.
Data current as at 13 Jun 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Canterbury
- Sector
- Other
- Status
- Under Construction
- Estimated value
- $800m
- Indicative completion
- 2029
- Funding status
- Fully Funded
- Lead organisation
- Department of Corrections / Southern Renewal Partners
- Election risk
- Low
Election risk assessment
Contracted under a signed PPP at financial close, so the build is locked in regardless of a change of government; a future government could still change how the prison is used.
Government priority alignment
MEDIUM: Justice-sector capital, outside the land transport GPS.
Chronology
- 2025Budget 2025: Cabinet agrees Phase 1 capital funding, estimated $700-800m
- 2026PPP tender attracts four bid groups; Project Agreement signed with Southern Renewal Partners and financial close reached (July), construction to begin later in the year
- 2029Construction due to complete (late 2029)
- 2030New facilities expected operational by mid-2030
Source
Beehive: Christchurch Men's Prison PPP deal signed ↗ · The Press: Public-private partnership to fund $800m Christchurch prison upgrade ↗ · Infrastructure Pipeline: Christchurch Men's Prison Redevelopment Programme ↗