Since starting this petition, I continue to see the same issue raised by prison families almost every day.
Families are sending emails to their loved ones — but waiting days, and sometimes much longer, for those messages to reach them.
Families are saying:
“I've written to my loved one every day and she still hasn't received them.”
“Same problem with mine.”
“A letter I sent a month ago still hasn't arrived.”
“They used to print them daily. Now it's taking a few days.”
“The reason given is ‘short staffed’.”
These aren't complaints about wanting prison life to be easier.
These are families trying to stay connected.
And there is something important to remember:
This isn't a new or untested idea.
Secure prisoner messaging systems already operate overseas, Australia and the UK.
The eMates model provides secure messaging within custodial environments, with communications subject to security checks and review. Depending on the establishment, messages can be printed for prisoners or delivered electronically, and approved reply services allow prisoners to respond.
So why can't New Zealand trial a similar system?
New Zealand already has prisoner email.
Families can send an email.
Corrections screens it, prints it and delivers it.
The prisoner can write a response — but that response then has to go back through ordinary mail, if the loved one is overseas, it can take 3 months to receive it.
Why not securely scan that handwritten response and return it electronically?
We're not asking for unrestricted internet access.
We're not asking for social media.
We're not asking Corrections to remove security controls.
We're asking for a secure, monitored and fully traceable two-way system, based on a model that is already being used in custodial settings overseas.
And if staffing shortages are contributing to delays in processing physical correspondence, that makes the question even more important:
Can we find a safer and more efficient way to keep families connected?
That's why this petition is asking for a two-year North Island pilot.
Test it.
Monitor it.
Independently evaluate the security, cost, staff workload, family connection and rehabilitation outcomes.
If it works — expand it.
If it doesn't — learn from it.
But let's stop accepting unnecessary communication barriers as simply “the way things are.”
New Zealand already has prisoner email.
Let's make it two-way.
Please sign and share this petition.
If you've experienced delays receiving emails from a loved one in prison, share your experience too.
Families deserve to be heard.