Our Southern region

With over 2,000 staff across the island, our Southern region whānau works together to support rehabilitation, reintegration and sentence management in the South Island.

Our teams are based at five prison sites (Christchurch Men’s Prison, Christchurch Women’s Prison and Rolleston Prison in Canterbury; Invercargill Prison, and Otago Corrections Facility), as well as 20 community corrections sites around the South Island and a regional office based in Christchurch Central.

What's happening in our Southern Region?

Partnering with the community

Our teams are focused on building and maintaining strong partnerships with community partners including mana whenua, Department of Conservation, local councils and authorities and a range of not-for profit organisations working in the community, including local food banks, employment, and accommodation providers.

Supporting women

The Te Mana Wāhine Pathway is a series of initiatives designed in partnership with Māori to achieve better outcomes for women being managed by Corrections in the Canterbury region.

The programme will deliver a seamless, end-to-end Kaupapa Maori pathway for women/wāhine and their whānau, and is currently being run at Christchurch Women’s Prison and Canterbury District.

Specialist services

Specialist facilities and services unique to the Southern Region include Special treatment units for Violent Offenders and Child Sex Offenders (at Christchurch Men’s and Rolleston Prisons) and Matawhāiti, a residence for men under a Public Protection Order (PPO) in Canterbury.

Giving people in prison new qualifications and skills for employment on release

Extensive education and lifeskills programmes are run in prisons and community services across the Region. We also offer prison trade training and qualifications in a number of industries including Construction, Distribution, Grounds Maintenance, Farming, Engineering, Horticulture and Textiles.

Why move South?

Southern Region

With spectacular landscapes and outdoor activities, the Southern Region is a gateway to natural wonders and adventure. Soak up the sun on the beachfront in Nelson, be part of the action in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), or venture south to Otago/Invercargill to live amongst some of the world’s most picturesque scenery. Combine great lifestyle choices with accessible housing and the Southern region is full of possibility. 

Be a part of the change

It takes a village to do what we do. Explore our range of teams to learn more about the roles within Ara Poutama Aotearoa.

Rārangi whakamua - Custodial

A career inside in our custodial environment means working face-to-face with people who have offended. As a custodial staff member it’s your role to ensure safety and improve the oranga of prisoners’ while they are with us.

Hauora me te Oranga - Health & Wellbeing

Working in an interdisciplinary team of health practitioners, we provide a range of health and well-being screening, assessments and treatments for people inside prison and out in the community.

The unexpected benefits of nursing in prison

At a time when recruiting and retaining Registered Nursing staff is challenging across the health sector, Christchurch Men’s Prison (CMP) is seeing a number of nurses returning to work in…

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Enter your details below to find out about the latest vacancies here in the Southern Region

  • 1. Apply
  • 2. Checks & Screening
  • 3. Meeting you
  • 4. Final checks
  • 5. Getting started

Apply online through our website - you'll answer relevant screening questions and upload your CV and a Cover Letter.

Because of the nature of our work and the high standards of integrity we carry out a number of checks. The types depend on what role you're applying for but typically include criminal conviction checks, an online interview and psychometric assessments.

We'll want to meet you in person and will invite you to come in. We'll do this through an interview, assessment centre, or an onsite job preview. 

We'll work with you to finalise details which may including Medical, Fitness and Drug testing.  We’ll also reach out to your referees to talk to them about your previous work and the skills you have.

Welcome to the whānau! From here we'll sort out getting you ready to start work. For all of our offender facing roles, this includes a comprehensive training programme to support offenders to change their behaviour and to keep yourself and your new team safe.