In this section
Access to money
Most people in prison have a trust account, which they can use to buy approved grocery items on a weekly basis.
Trust accounts are limited to a maximum of $200 and prisoners cannot spend more than $70 per week.
1 October 2024
Changes coming for cash deposits
Corrections is changing the rules for cash deposits for people in prison.
If you only send money using online banking this doesn’t affect you.
From 11 November 2024, Corrections will no longer accept:
- anonymous cash deposits
- cash sent by mail
- cash or EFTPOS deposits at prison sites
- cash deposits using Westpac ATMs or bank tellers.
Privacy
When you make a deposit, we collect your information to ensure we meet the requirements for trust accounts under regulation 41(1) and 43(1) of the Corrections Regulations 2005. We collect your name directly from you or from your bank to ensure accurate records of each trust account are maintained and to assess deposits for approval. We share your name with the prisoner if they request access to their trust account information.
Our bank provides us with your bank account number when you make a deposit using a bank transfer. Your bank account number is only used to return your deposit to you when the deposit is not approved by the prison manager. Your bank account number will not be shared with anyone else outside of our trust administration staff. Your personal information is securely stored by Corrections. You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, please contact us at info@corrections.govt.nz.
Get sorted
People asking to deposit cash while visiting a prison site, an ATM or bank branch will be advised that the rules are changing and that from 11 November 2024, cash will not be accepted.
What you can do instead
If you have cash you can put it into a bank account and then make a bank transfer deposit.
Don’t send cash
Cash cannot be sent to prisoners. Cash that arrives by mail will not be added to prisoner trust accounts. Instead any cash sent in this manner will be held for the depositor to collect, and if unclaimed, sent to Treasury annually.
Exceptions
If you can prove that you are unable to open or operate a bank account, you may apply for an exception to make a cash deposit. Applicants will have to meet strict criteria, including providing acceptable identification and proof they can’t apply for a bank account.
Download the information sheet About Special Exceptions to make Cash Deposits PDF, 4.0 MB
Download the Application Form for Special Exception to make cash deposits PDF, 155.7 KB
If you have questions please contact the prison and ask to speak to the Trust Account staff.
How to deposit money
Family and friends can send money using electronic bank transfer.
People with no bank account who still want to make deposits will need to set up a bank account.
The easiest way to complete a bank transfer is via online banking. If you don’t have access to online banking, you can talk to your bank about alternative ways to make a bank transfer (e.g going into your bank branch or phone banking).
To make deposits via online banking you will need to know:
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Online banking
Electronic deposits can be made through your online banking app on a mobile phone or desktop computer.
Westpac bank customers: Follow the below step-by-step guide to make deposits via online banking
- Log into your online banking
- Select bill payments
- Search for the prison bank account from the drop down box
- Include the PRN number in the ‘reference field’
- Include the first 12 characters of the prisoner's surname in the ‘particulars field’
- Enter the amount and then click confirm
Steps for making electronic deposits will vary between other banks. For example BNZ customers need to add the prison's trust account as a payee before electronic payments can be made. People should contact their bank directly if they have any queries.