NewsNZ prisoners get carrots instead of cigarettes : The unlikely initiative is among measures aimed at helping inmates kick the tobacco habit before a controversial smoke-free prisons policy takes effect on July 1.

A national directive, leaked from Invercargill Prison to the Southland Times newspaper, instructs staff one "jumbo" carrot is to be sliced into 16 carrot sticks, cut into uniform sizes "to the best of our ability".