Kia ora friends,

We want to update you on the fight to end the use of the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU) in New Zealand.

High Court Challenge

Earlier this year, prisoners held inside PERU asked the High Court to rule that Corrections’ “Operating Model” is unlawful and goes beyond what the law allows. Unfortunately, in Wereta v Attorney-General [2025] NZHC 926, the Court refused to make that ruling at this early stage. The judge said the issues are too complex and need a full hearing, so the preliminary bid was unsuccessful.

This means the legal challenge is still alive — but there is still no binding court decision yet that PERU is unlawful.

Ombudsman’s Findings

Meanwhile, the Chief Ombudsman’s official inspection report has confirmed what many families and advocates already know:

Prisoners in PERU are being subjected to conditions that are cruel, inhuman, and degrading.

These practices breach New Zealand’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.
The Ombudsman found the regime denies dignity, meaningful human contact, and any clear pathway out.

Why This Matters

Corrections continues to operate PERU despite damning findings from the Ombudsman and growing public pressure. The courts have not yet ruled against it, but the fight is far from over. Every signature helps show that New Zealanders and international supporters will not accept secretive regimes that strip away human rights.

What’s Next
Judicial review proceedings are ongoing.

We will keep you updated as cases progress through the courts.
In the meantime, we urge the Government and Corrections to act on the Ombudsman’s findings now — not wait for years of litigation.

🙏 Thank you for standing with us. We are now over 8,000 signatures strong — please keep sharing this petition so that those in power can no longer ignore it.

Together, we can stop the secret punishment.