The Justice Minister is taking a cautious approach to the idea of marae's being used to accommodate people who are out on bail.

The Penal Reform League say there are marae in Northland which could provide accommodation and get some maintenance work done in exchange.

The idea has been floated as an alternative to prison, which is where people end up when they can't provide a suitable bail address.

Andrew Little says he's concerned about the number of people in jail, waiting for their cases to be heard.

He said we need other answers, but there's no quick fix.

"I think we have to be a bit careful that we don't see people who are on remand, whether they are in custody or on bail as somehow a free source of labour. They haven't been sentenced yet, they haven't even been convicted and so it's not a question of imposing punishment.

Little said he is concerned about the number of people being remanded to prison.

"Now look let's find those alternatives, and this may well be one of them, but I'd have to be very clear there would be stringent conditions on where anybody would go who'd been and they are waiting for a determination of whether they are guilty or not."