Waikeria Prison stand-off in New Zealand now in fifth day
Wellington: Two members of New Zealand’s National Party were refused entry to Waikeria Prison yesterday, as the uprising by inmates showed little sign of being resolved.
Inmates holding up part of Waikeria Prison are now into their fifth day under siege. Overnight a large fire was seen burning from where the men are.
Two National MPs – Simeon Brown and Barbara Kuriger – attempted to enter the prison yesterday, but were turned back by prison authorities.
They were told under normal circumstances they would have been allowed in, but this was an emergency situation and they would need permission from the Corrections Minister,
Mr Brown has been calling for a full investigation into how the riot started and why it has been allowed to continue.
Six prison vans left the facility yesterday and a number of Fire and Emergency vehicles had gone onto the prison grounds.
A former Waikeria Prison guard, who did not want to be identified, has told RNZ the culture is toxic and conditions are in a poor state. They resigned a couple of years ago and described the water being in an atrocious state, and staff not even touching it.
The former prison guard said the yard where inmates exercise was so run down, if it was a zoo yard it would be shut down.
They also said there’s racism and an underlying negative culture towards the inmates.
In its latest statement issued last night, Corrections said the prisoners had broken into a restricted area and had constructed makeshift weapons that could be used against prison staff.
The department said the prisoners have continued to cause extensive damage to the facility.
Incident controller Jeanette Burns said it is worrying that the men have gained access to weapons and equipment.
She said negotiations are ongoing and the prisoners have had multiple opportunities to surrender. Family members of one of the 16 prisoners staging the protest at Waikeria Prison have arrived at the gates.
RNZ’s reporter, who is at the prison, said yelling could be heard from inside the low-security prison gates.