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Waikeria Prison Expansion
Department of Corrections · Waikato
Expansion of Waikeria Prison in Waikato, set to become the country's largest corrections facility. A 596-bed high-security development, including a 96-bed Mental Health and Addiction Service, opened in 2025. A further 810-bed extension is due by late 2029, taking the site to about 1,865 beds. Corrections has not published a standalone cost for the extension.
Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Waikato
- Sector
- Other
- Status
- Under Construction
- Estimated value
- Value TBC
- Indicative completion
- 2029
- Funding status
- Fully Funded
- Lead organisation
- Department of Corrections
- Election risk
- Medium
Election risk assessment
Under construction and funded within Budget 2024's Corrections capital, but prison expansion is ideologically contested: the Greens and Te Pati Māori favour reducing the prison population rather than adding beds, so a change of government could slow the later stages.
Recent changes
- 2026-W37Major New project added: Waikeria Prison Expansion (Under Construction, value TBC).
Chronology
- 2024Budget 2024: $1.9b over four years for Corrections announced (May), including a further 810-bed high-security extension at Waikeria
- 2025New 596-bed high-security development opens (500 beds plus a 96-bed Mental Health and Addiction Service)
- 2029expected810-bed extension targeted for completion (late 2029), taking the site toward roughly 1,900 beds
Source
Department of Corrections: New 596-bed development opens at Waikeria Prison ↗ · RNZ: Prison spending: Waikeria to have capacity for nearly 2000 beds ↗ · RNZ: Government quiet on costs, building plan for Waikato prison expansion ↗