Wellington, July 13 NZPA - A Green Party MP says he will spend a night in jail if the Government can build a private prison at Wiri in south Auckland for $300 million.

By Maggie Tait and Laura McQuillan of NZPA Wellington, June 29 NZPA - Changes to ban smoking in prisons do not need to be so sudden, Labour leader Phil Goff says, as concerns are raised the move will increase violence behind bars.

By Maggie Tait and Laura McQuillam of NZPA Wellington, June 29 NZPA - Former prison manager Celia Lashlie is backing prison staff union the Corrections Association over its concerns banning smoking will see more violence in jails.

Wellington, June 29 NZPA - Prisoners don't like being in jail anyway and banning smoking isn't likely to have a huge impact on their behaviour, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - Prisoners will have a year to adjust to not being able to smoke in jail but after that new inmates will have to go cold turkey.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - A comprehensive cessation programme must be available to prisoners if smoking is banned in jails, the Rethinking Crime and Punishment group says.

Wellington, May 11 NZPA - The prison officers' union says 450 Corrections officer jobs are at risk because of a government decision to allow two existing prisons to be privately managed.

Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - Prison guards who don't want to work in private jails won't have to, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says. A burgeoning prison population meant prison guards would be in demand, she told reporters today following a protest this morning.

Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - Opposition MPs supported a small but vocal protest today outside Parliament, with the Public Service (PSA) and Corrections associations warning of backlashes if the Government privatises prisons.

Wellington, Dec 18 NZPA - The Corrections Association has lost a court challenge over extended double-bunking in prisons.