Corrections will still use an order of 1000 electronic anklets to monitor offenders -- despite it being proved they could be cut with a pair of kitchen scissors.
Two weeks ago Judith Collins tested the new batch of electronic monitoring anklets and she couldn't cut through them.
But just hours later, with an independent test, it failed.
"I couldn't personally do it, but obviously TV3 had the brother of an All Black to do it," Ms Collins says.
Story cameraman Billy Weepu, brother of Piri Weepu, cut through the anklets with a pair of Corrections-issued scissors, live on air.
But despite that proof they can be cut, Corrections is still going to use them.
Ms Collins doesn't think it's a waste of taxpayer money.
"It'd actually be very difficult to [cut through them]," she says.
There will be about 200 of the new devices rolled out at the end of July but due to minimum order requirements, Corrections had to order 1000 of them.
Newshub can't tell you how much they cost as Corrections says that's commercially sensitive information.
Ms Collins is happy enough with the fact it's apparently going to be harder to cut them.
"They're actually stronger than any other bracelet around I'm told and the fact is they take longer to cut off," she says.
Labour's corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis says New Zealand has two options if the bracelets are still going to be issued.
"Even with the new improved version you can see it's easy enough to cut off, so New Zealand's got an option: either strengthen the bracelets, or sell flimsier scissors."
On Tuesday was another story of why they need to be improved.
Lyndon Keil was allegedly one of three men who went to a woman's home and threatened her with a gun in Wainuiomata back in February.
Now he's on the run, the latest to cut off his electronic monitoring anklet.
Corrections statistics say 20 to 40 offenders who are meant to have anklets are on the run at any one time.
But Ms Collins isn't concerned.
"Sometimes on the run means one hour, and there's the odd one that will go a bit longer but they always get caught in the end," she says.
If any other consumer good failed a test like this, it would get taken back for a refund.
But for whatever reason, Corrections either can't or won't do that. Unfortunately for taxpayers, it seems the new anklets have no money-back guarantee.
Newshub.
