Te Pāti Māori says the Government’s plan to add 316 high-security prison beds in Hawke’s Bay shows why communities are calling for a new direction in 2026.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said the expansion highlights the gap between what whānau want and what the Government is delivering.
“Whānau want early support and real opportunities for their rangatahi. More prison beds do not deliver that. Prevention does, and that is the direction Te Pāti Māori will take into 2026.”
“As I said during Justice Select Committee earlier this week: all this Government’s Justice policies undermine Hōkai Rangi – Corrections’ long-term strategy to eliminate the overincarceration of Māori. This is no exception”
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate Haley Maxwell said meaningful safety comes from strengthening communities, not expanding prisons.
“A larger prison will not lift Hawke’s Bay. Safer communities come from stable homes, strong services, and early help. That is where Te Pāti Māori will invest.”
Maxwell said, “Concrete walls do not create safety. Whānau, connection, and Māori-led support do. The Hawke’s Bay deserves investment that keeps people well, not locked away.”
Waititi said the party’s 2026 focus is on breaking the cycle altogether. “Our plan is simple: to invest early so fewer people ever enter the justice system. That is how we build a stronger future for Hawke’s Bay and Aotearoa.”
“Our region asked for homes after the floods. They asked for roads and repair. Instead, the Government is building a high-security block for 316 prisoners. That tells you exactly who they care about, and it is not whānau. We will deliver what the people truly need” said Maxwell.
Te Pāti Māori says its 2026 vision centres on:
- Early support and prevention
- Strong homes and stable services
- Māori-led responses that reduce harm
- Opportunities for rangatahi and whānau
“Ikaroa Rawhiti deserves a future built on support, not sentences, and not chains” Waititi said.