Residents opposed to a new men's prison at Wiri in South Auckland say a reduction in the number of beds will not placate them.
The Corrections Department had initially wanted to build a 1500-bed facility next to the women's prison but is now said to be looking at reducing that number to just over 1000.
Weymouth Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman Fred Buck says the community simply does not want a third jail in the area.
Mr Buck says a series of Environmental Protection Authority hearings into the matter, which are due to start on Monday, are a complete waste of time.
He says the residents realise there's no way to stop the prison being built as the department owns the land.
