Last week The Chief Ombudsman announced a self initiated, independent investigation into how the Department of Corrections has responded to repeated calls for reforms aimed at improving conditions for prisoners. 

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier said that “In many areas, he has not seen significant and sustained improvements to prisoners’ welfare and rehabilitation, despite concerns about conditions being raised by him and others at different levels of the department, and report after report being released calling for change.”

Peter Boshier is Chief Ombudsman for New Zealand. He was appointed in December 2015, following a distinguished career as a Judge, and in May 2020 was reappointed for a second five-year term.

Born and educated in Gisborne, Peter attended Victoria University of Wellington, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws with Honours Degree in 1975. After a period of practice in Wellington he was appointed as a District Court Judge with a specialist Family Court warrant in 1988.