Around 260 Department of Corrections staff are expected to be affected in the next year by a proposal to close parts of three prisons.

Department of Corrections chief executive Ray Smith says while overall the number of beds for prisoners will increase by 433 this year, they'll be modern, safe and focused on rehabilitation, unlike the units in Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo and Rimutaka Prisons that are proposed for closure.

A proposal to close parts of three prisons will affect Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo and Rimutaka prisons.

'Over the next year we expect around 260 Corrections staff will be affected and Corrections will help them move to other prisons if they wish.

'The Department of Corrections plays a key role in driving for a 25 per cent reduction in re-offending by 2017,” says Ray.

'To achieve this, we need to change the way we operate and make all prisons places of industry, learning and rehabilitation.”

The opening of the new 960-bed Auckland South Corrections Facility next month will not only provide these facilities, it will create the additional capacity we need to be able to close some of our oldest units that are no longer fit for purpose.

There are over 1000 prisoners from Auckland, currently housed in other prisons around the country, and many of these will be moved back closer to their families, aiding their rehabilitation.

The proposal also outlines a new prison structure where all custodial, education, employment, reintegration, health and rehabilitation services are under the direction of a Prison Director.

Prison Directors would have responsibility over the staff and resources they need to achieve working prisons and create lasting change in the lives of offenders.

Supporting our staff through these changes will be our main priority.

Staff have been given the opportunity to comment on the proposal and a final decision will not be made until May 2015.

The Public Service Association says a Department of Corrections proposal to cut more than 260 jobs is privatisation by stealth that will hurt provincial New Zealand.

PSA national secretary Erin Polaczuk says 'This is the biggest slashing of jobs at Corrections in recent memory, including 50 per cent of jobs at Waikeria prison.

'The new private prison at Wiri in South Auckland is being used to justify cutting public service jobs, despite the fact that private prisons are run for profit rather than rehabilitation,” says Erin.

'Replacing stable public service jobs in provincial New Zealand with lower-quality private sector jobs in Auckland is a bad step for the Government to be taking.

'Private prisons are worse for staff and prisoners in terms of safety, and focus on profit and filling beds rather than rehabilitation and protection.”

Erin says Corrections' goal of reducing reoffending by 25 per cent will be made more difficult by this shifting of public funds into private hands.

'We will be vigorously arguing against this proposal on behalf of our 260 members at these three prisons.”