CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and Pacific Partnerships Celebrate Opening of New Facility at Waikeria Prison
Senior representatives from CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and Pacific Partnerships joined officials from New Zealand’s Department of Corrections, including Minister of Corrections Hon Mark Mitchell and Department Chief Executive Jeremy Lightfoot, to mark the opening of a major new facility at Waikeria Prison.
The new development features a 500-bed facility designed to enhance safety and security for both staff and inmates. In addition, a dedicated 96-bed mental health and addiction centre has been established to provide specialised care and support. This centre offers prisoners improved access to education and training, aiming to boost their rehabilitation prospects.
At the heart of the Waikeria Prison Development project is a strong focus on prisoner rehabilitation. CPB Contractors partnered with the Department of Corrections’ Release to Work program to train and employ 87 prisoners on the construction site. Integrated into a workforce that peaked at 1,000 people, these prisoners gained valuable work experience and construction skills, significantly improving their chances of finding employment and successfully reintegrating into society upon release.
Paul Corbett, General Manager of CPB Contractors, said, “We’re proud to celebrate this impressive new facility alongside the New Zealand Government and Department of Corrections. This project exemplifies how collaboration and partnership can deliver complex infrastructure successfully.
“The Release to Work program is a privilege to support. Many participants have gone on to secure employment in their communities after release. This initiative not only supports prisoner rehabilitation but also gave the workers a sense of pride in contributing to the new facility.”
Graham Whitson, Executive General Manager – Operations at Pacific Partnerships, representing the PPP consortium Cornerstone Infrastructure Partners, spoke at the event about the inspirational journey of delivering this modern correctional facility alongside the Department of Corrections.
“The Department’s commitment to safety, rehabilitation, health, and wellbeing has broken new ground,” Whitson said. “We have been proud to support this vision from the beginning and will continue to maintain the facility to the highest standards for the next 25 years, allowing the Department to focus on managing and operating the prison.”
Located about 170km south of Auckland near Te Awamutu in the Waikato region, the project spans roughly 21 hectares and includes 28 new buildings along with perimeter walls, fencing, covered walkways, and recreational facilities. The construction required approximately 8.5 million work hours to complete.
Throughout the project, CPB Contractors prioritised maximising economic and social benefits for the local community. This included focusing on local employment and collaborating with regional and national businesses such as JWI Earthmoving Limited and Whangārei-based national electrical contractor McKay.
JWI, a family-owned civil and bulk earthworks business from Waikato, initially subcontracted a limited civil works scope but later expanded their contract significantly. Starting with four full-time employees at the project’s onset, JWI’s workforce has grown to 15 full-time staff and an additional 26 subcontracted workers, showcasing how regional infrastructure projects can create sustainable employment and economic growth.
