“Measuring quality of Corrections’ health assets” is a finalist for the 2025 Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Awards.

Following deep and broad stakeholder engagement, the meaning of quality (fitness-for-purpose) for all Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) prison health assets was defined into Levels of Service/ health asset performance measures. Nine prisons were assessed against these measures and the results collated and analysed, to inform future investment in improving health assets performance.

All involved: Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), KPMG

Prison populations tend to have some of the highest and most complex needs—including a high prevalence of people with serious, often life-threatening, conditions. More than 90% of people in prison have had a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health or substance abuse disorder. Presenting health conditions are increasingly complex, meaning some health assets are no longer fit-for-purpose.

Historically, only the physical condition of health assets has been measured against a required Level of Service. The result is a paucity of evidence regarding the performance of health assets in contributing to Te Whare Tapa Whā – specifically taha tinana and taha hinengaro. Consequently, we developed a mechanism to measure health asset “fitness-for-purpose”, establishing a quantifiable evidence base aligned to Hōkai Rangi (Corrections’ organisational strategy), to support the delivery of optimal health outcomes. This evidence will delineate where investments in health assets will be more effective for both prisoners and society.