The number of prisoners at the Otago Corrections Facility will rise next year, possibly by hundreds, following a Budget announcement funding had been allocated for double bunking.
Funding of $385.4 million over the next four years would ensure there were enough prison beds to cope with a rising prison population, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said.
The funding will see 1000 extra beds through double bunking at Otago, Northland, Auckland Women's, Spring Hill and Mt Eden prisons, at considerably less cost than building a new prison.
However, prison officers argue the practice makes their jobs dangerous by increasing prisoner unrest.
Bevan Hanlon, the chief executive of the Corrections Association, which represents corrections officers, told the Otago Daily Times he had "grave concerns" about the move to double bunking.
The Budget provides for funding for the Corrections Department to employ more frontline prison staff but Mr Hanlon said prisons were already understaffed, which meant they were dangerous places in which to work.
Extra staff to be recruited to cater for the extra prisoners were unlikely to be in sufficient numbers to make a difference.
The maximum capacity at the Milburn prison could be lifted from 402 to 600 by the double bunking.
Earlier this month, there were 297 prisoners in the jail.
Another feature of the Budget was $182.5 million funding for an extra 600 police, including 300 in Counties-Manukau.
A southern district police spokeswoman said the details of what the Budget meant for the region and how many police would be sent here were still being worked through.
Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost said the budget gave police the "resourcing and tools" they needed.
Community law centres also received some funding reassurance with $7.2 million allocated for operating costs after concerns earlier this year services may be at risk because of a funding cut.
