New Zealand's corrections department has copped flak after spending more than $NZ1 million on slushie machines to keep prison staff cool.
It's been revealed the country's prison authority bought 193 of the flavoured, iced drink machines after a record-hot summer in 2017-18 in order to reduce staff discomfort and tension that could lead to inmate violence.
There are about 9000 staff working in New Zealand prisons and the machines were installed across 16 prisons at a cost of $NZ1,095,308 ($A1.035 million).
Prisoners do not have access to the machines.
The Department of Corrections defended the decision saying it feared a repeat of the heatwave and wanted to help staff who wear six-kilogram, stab-proof vests and work long stints in crowded, indoor spaces at heats up of up 30C.
It also cited research showing slushies were more effective than water.
Opposition National Party leader Simon Bridges called the buy "an extraordinary waste of taxpayers' money".
"Government departments under Labour have got the idea that taxpayer money is there to spray around on whatever," he said.
But Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said while it was an operational matter, he backed the effort.
"This is about looking after our people and making sure they're able to perform well - and I make no apologies for it," he told Radio NZ
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also weighed in, saying while she expected restraint from government departments' spending, it was a matter of managing staff safety.
"We can have a debate around the way that's done, but ultimately this was a decision Corrections made at an operation level around the health and safety of their staff," she said.
The department said the machines had been effective the following summer and appreciated by staff.
