Maori Affairs and Associate Corrections Minister Pita Sharples says he's counting on private prison operator Serco and its Maori partner to change the way prisons operate.
The British company, which runs a number of private prisons in Australia, has been selected to run the Auckland central remand prison at Mount Eden.
Dr Sharples says the current prison system focuses too much on punishment and incarceration and it's time for a more innovative approach.
Waatea News reports he wants to see more drug rehabilitation, Maori focused units and other targeted programmes for prisoners.
