Interest high in Ngawha Prison jobs

Northlanders are lining up to be prison guards at the Ngawha Prison, the Department of Corrections says.

The department has held four information evenings for people interested in becoming guards at the prison, about 7km northeast of Kaikohe.

The jail will provide about 230 jobs, including about 90 guards, and should receive its first prisoners on March 24 next year.

Site manager Mike Hughes said 395 people registered their interest in taking a job at the prison.