Acknowlegements This report has its origins in findings made during the analysis of data for my previous report for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission (HRC), “Time for a Paradigm Shift”, and my deep concern about what I observed regarding the treatment of women in Aotearoa New Zealand’s prisons. I should like to express my sincere thanks to the Human Rights Commission for enabling me to undertake this in-depth look into restrictive practices in women’s prisons. It has meant that I have been able to examine if and how things have changed over the course of the four years since my first report on restrictive practices, and whether promises and policy statements were acted on. Special thanks are due to John Hancock, Chief Legal Adviser, HRC, for commissioning this report and supporting its progress; to Jaimee Paenga, Legal Adviser, HRC, who worked alongside me on this project from the very start; and to Eleanor Vermunt and Nicky Wynne for excellent briefings and help in bringing the project to completion. Many thanks also to Rachna Nath, Jessica Ngatai, Charm Skinner and Dr Esther Rootham at HRC for their thoughts, comments, and help in ensuring that this report is widely available. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt; Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero MNZM; Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon; and Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Dr Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo for their ongoing support. My thanks to the Department of Corrections, and to Jeremy Lightfoot, its Chief Executive Officer, for engaging with me as a critical friend. Thanks also to solicitor Amanda Hill for taking the time to comment on the report. My warm thanks to the Office of the Ombudsman for their ongoing work, and for their support and excellent comments on a draft of this report and helping to make it better. Janet Anderson-Bidois, Eric Fairbairn, Patrick, Lucy and Emma have shared thoughts and comments on drafts of this report; Christine McCarthy has proofed it; and Jacinda Torrance of Verso Visual Communications has worked with me on layout and design. My thanks to them all. Last but not least, I am grateful to the many people who engaged with me during our visit to Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility – managers, staff, and, in particular, incarcerated women, for sharing their experiences and thoughts with us. It is my sincere hope that this report will serve to help improve their treatment and conditions. Sharon Shalev London, October 2021 4