By Paloma Migone of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - Only half of New Zealand prisoners suffering from serious mental health illness are being treated, despite there being room to accommodate them.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - A bill to strip prisoners on short sentences of their rights to vote should be scrapped unless MPs want to show they have no respect for the Bill of Rights, the Chief Human Rights Commissioner says.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - A report saying the Corrections Department should no longer be responsible for prison healthcare has been hailed by an inmates' rights lobbyist as an important and significant contribution to health policy.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - The Government should consider transferring prison health care out of the Corrections Department and into the health sector, a National Health Committee report into improving the health of prisoners says.

Wellington, July 2 NZPA - The Corrections Department will be the largest government department within a few years, Finance Minister Bill English said.

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 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, June 27 NZPA - The Government is reportedly looking at making the nation's prisons smoke free from next year.