The Maori party has got the go ahead from Correction Minister Peseta Lotu-Iiga to explore what is needed to set up a full Maori prison in New Zealand.
Party co-leader Marama Fox says the idea is to apply the concept of the highly successful Maori focus units which already operate in some prisons to a full prison with Maori staff and Maori inmates.
Marama Fox say while the Minister hasn't made a committment at this stage she has got approval to get a group together to get things moving towards a Maori prison which may be 5 years away.
She says Maori would be able to run a prison better than private company Serco.
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