63% of all women in prison (compared to roughly 16.5% of New Zealand’s female population).14 Pacific women are slightly underrepresented in prisons: they make up 6% of the prison population15 and 8% of New Zealand’s female population.16 The women incarcerated in New Zealand’s prisons are a vulnerable population, with high levels of deprivation, trauma, and multiple and complex needs.17 Many are mothers, some with sole responsibility for the entire family. A study of mental health in New Zealand’s prisons18 found that, of the total population of women in prison, • 81% were victims of violence (family; sexual; generalized); • 68% have been victims of family violence; • 53% were exposed to sexual violence (including rape, 40%); • 61% were exposed to intimate partner violence; • 52% suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) across their lifetime; • 75% were diagnosed with mental health problems in the last 12 months; • 46% had a lifetime alcohol dependency; • 44% had a lifetime drug dependency. “The women incarcerated in New Zealand’s prisons are a vulnerable population, with high levels of deprivation, trauma, and multiple and complex needs. Many are mothers, some with sole responsibility for the entire family.” 14 General population data is derived from 2018 census data, see: https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018census-ethnic-group-summaries/m%C4%81ori 15 2015 data, see: https://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/13047/Pacific_Offenders_ topic_series_report.pdf 16 According to data from the 2018 census: https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-ethnic-groupsummaries/pacific-peoples 17 McGlue, H. Trauma hiding in plain view: the case for trauma informed practice in women’s prisons Practice: The New Zealand Corrections Journal, Volume 4 Issue 2: December 2016 18 Indig D, Gear C, Wilhelm K. (2016) Comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders among New Zealand prisoners. New Zealand Department of Corrections, Wellington. 19