Corrections says it won't be able to resume whānau visits for all prisoners until the beginning of next year.
It's blaming a shortage of more than 400 prison staff for halting in-person visits for almost half of the prison population. More than 3500 inmates are affected by the ban, which began under COVID-19 in 2021.
Prisoners in Auckland, Mt Eden, Spring Hill, Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Rimutaka and Arohata prisons currently have to rely on phone cards and occasional video calls to catch up with whānau, including their tamariki.
However one of the prisons might re-start visits by the end of this week.
Topia Rameka, the deputy chief executive - Māori at Corrections, told The Hui more than 1500 people had applied to work at Corrections, but hiring successful candidates and training them would take months.
"We are turning on prison visits week by week and I know there is another one opening this week."
Rameka said all prisons should be open again for visits by early next year.
The suspension of prison visits has been strongly criticised by advocacy group Pillars and the Human Rights Commissioner.
It also appears to breach Corrections' own strategy document Hokai Rangi, which is designed to achieve better outcomes and intergenerational change with Māori and their whānau.
"Whānau must have timely, tailored access and support ... to access the best pathway and services for effective rehabilitation, holistic wellbeing and reintegration to prevent future re-offending," Hokai Rangi said.
Rameka denied the Hokai Rangi strategy was a failure and said Corrections has actively engaged with prisoners and whānau through the pandemic. Prisoners in most facilities could make video calls once or twice a week.
Hokai Rangi also aimed to increase the number of Māori working for Corrections both in jails and in the community. But since 2015, the number of Māori staff has only gone up 1.6 percent - it currently sits at 22 percent.
Rameka said the number of specialist kaupapa Māori practitioners within Corrections had increased significantly over the past couple of years.
"What's important is that we have Māori in key positions that are relevant to the mahi at play and I see a large group of kaupapa Māori practitioners who are working tirelessly ... in the community and in custodial operations."
He said recruiters were using social media, marae, and community facilities to attract more staff into Corrections.
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the Public Interest Journalism Fund.
