Former inmate rubbishes claims of poor conditions

A former inmate at Waikeria Prison has rubbished claims of poor conditions at the jail and said the presence of deported Australian gang members was a more likely cause for the unrest.

The prison was the scene of a five-night standoff, with prisoners lighting multiple fires, which destroyed the ‘‘top jail’’ facility.

Family members of the protesters said their complaints had been dismissed.

However, the former inmate

Stuff spoke to, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he believed the more likely cause of the trouble was Mongol and Comanchero gang members, five of whom were deportees from Australia. ‘‘Just s... stirring,’’ he said. ‘‘When they were deported they should have been put straight into maximum security.’’

The man also dismissed claims prisoners were kept in dirty clothing and denied access to water. ‘‘A lot of crap. We have a clothing locker, go down there, change your clothing.’’

He said the tap water was ‘‘s...’’ but said prisoners were supplied with bottled drinking water, including bottles from a chiller in summer. ‘‘You could just go and help yourself,’’ he said.

National Party MP Simeon Brown told Stuff he wanted an independent inquiry into the prison unrest, including examining the role of deported Australian biker gang members.

‘‘We can’t remain naive as a country about the increasing gang numbers we are seeing, including the 501s,’’ he said.

‘‘This can’t just be some internal investigation.’’

Brown said he wanted any probe to get to the bottom of what motivated the disturbance and to detail what plans Corrections had to deal with such a scenario.

Brown’s call was echoed by John Baron-Crangle, a former Waikeria inmate.

‘‘Every one of those prisoners should be independently interviewed, a big ask but we want to know what went wrong,’’ he said.

Baron-Crangle also described the prison as ‘‘not fit for purpose’’. He said access to water was an issue, as well as prisoners spending too long in their cells.

‘‘Staff have not been doing what they are meant to do, senior management have covered it up,’’ he said.

Rotorua-based lawyer Tim Braithwaite also backed claims the prison was outdated and not fit for purpose.

‘‘Like Alcatraz, it is just the most horrible place.’’

Braithwaite said he was not surprised at the disturbance.

‘‘Just a matter of time when you keep people in cages, treat them like animals.’’

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis was unable to respond to

Stuff questions but a spokesperson said three reviews were under way – an operational review being carried out by Corrections chief custodial officer, an independent inquiry being led by the chief inspector, and a police investigation.