it became the proposed site for a new $900 million 960-bed men's prison which was to be built by 2015 and operated by British conglomerate Serco. This would make the suburb of Wiri the country's biggest prison precinct. The original plan was for only 150 beds, but a 20 per cent hike in the number of women being sent to prison led to a significant expansion. Despite the increase, women still make up only 6% of the prison population. ARWCF now houses up to 456 prisoners and as a result of the increase, the cost blew out from an estimated $58 million to $158 million. ARWCF is the first purpose-built women's prison in New Zealand. Until it was built, female prisoners have mostly had to serve their sentences at women's prisons in Wellington and Christchurch. The prison also provides the Kowhiritanga ('Making Choices') Programme. This rehabilitation programme is designed to address the particular needs of female prisoners – many of whom have suffered sexual abuse. Auckland University sociologist Tracey McIntosh says virtually all Maori women in prisons have been physically or sexually abused - and were excluded from school by the age of 13. The Making Choices programme uses cognitive-behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, group psychotherapy, recreational psychology and a narrative approach to therapy. In 2010 it was reported that eight prisoners at the facility were training dogs as part of the Puppies in Prison programme. The puppies were being trained by low security prisoners to help people in the community living with disabilities. The puppies help prepare the prisoners for life outside prison as well as learning around 90 tasks to help their future owners. They live with the women in self care units at the prison and even attend rehabilitation and education programmes with them. The puppies spend a year with the prisoners, before returning to the community for advanced training. Auckland South Corrections Facility In 2010 Corrections Minister, Judith Collins said an additional 2270 prison beds would be needed by 2019 to cope with forecast growth in prisoner numbers and to replace aging existing prisons. In response, the Government announced that the Department of Corrections proposed the establishment of a new men's prison with 1060 beds on undeveloped land adjacent to the Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility at 20 Hautu Drive, Wiri, Manukau City. Environment Minister Nick Smith established a board of inquiry to fast-track the building