Waikeria Prison Siege: Inmates Access Tactical Gear, Bulletproof Vests, Build Improvised Weapons

Inmates who rioted at the Waikeria prison have gained access to power tools, tactical equipment including shields and bulletproof vests, and have built makeshift weapons to use against Corrections personnel.

Protesting inmates have also accessed a medical dispensary where controlled drugs are stored and now there are concerns for the structural integrity of the badly damaged prison building.

Sixteen men have taken refuge in a high-security building since Tuesday, when they lit several fires to protest the poor conditions.

Since then, the building has suffered extensive damage and the Department of Corrections said it was unlikely to be used again.

Jeanette Burns, Corrections Incident Controller, said the “prisoner disorder event” continues tonight. Negotiations are ongoing with 16 prisoners in the “superior jail” facility.

She said the incident was contained within the secure perimeter of the facility and that there was no threat to public safety.

“Prisoners have continued to cause extensive damage to the facilities, including forced access to restricted areas, including a room used to store tactical equipment including power tools, shields, batons and bulletproof vests.

“They have also built a series of makeshift weapons that we believe they plan to use against staff and have accessed a medical dispensary where controlled drugs are stored.

“While the group claims that they are protesting the conditions in the prison and not riots, their actions are clearly violent.”

Burns said buildings within the facility suffered significant damage and officials now had concerns about their structural integrity.

“Furthermore, we know that there are tensions among the prisoners themselves that can result in violence, evidenced by the assault perpetrated against the man who turned himself in last night. We remain concerned that the men are putting themselves at significant risk by staying where they are.”

Yesterday, the prisoners agreed with the negotiators to surrender if they could speak to kaumātua. This was facilitated but did not resolve the situation, Burns said.

Later that day, the prisoners vowed to surrender if they could speak to Maori party deputy Rawiri Waititi. This was also facilitated and did not resolve the situation.

“We have negotiated in good faith and the prisoners have breached the commitments they made.”

Burns said other people had reached out to Corrections who they believed could resolve the incident. Corrections had rejected these approaches.

“This continues to be a very volatile and dangerous situation, complicated by the damage to the facilities and the access to weapons that the prisoners have.

“We are not prepared to compromise the safety of personnel responding to the incident, and highly trained personnel with specialized skills will continue to negotiate with inmates.

“The prisoners are aware that they will be provided with water when they surrender, along with increased access to kaumātua. They have had multiple regular opportunities to meet with staff.”

Burns said Corrections was supporting some 200 prisoners who were evacuated from the main jail and transferred to other prison sites, and considering how else it could help them stay in touch with their whānau and friends.

“Many have found the incident distressing and are concerned about the impact of being unexpectedly transferred on their rehabilitation, employment and educational progress.”

Earlier, one of the men hiding in the prison told RNZ that Corrections needed to start telling the truth about what is really happening, and that inmates would stay there “as long as it takes.”

Late yesterday afternoon, one of the inmates surrendered after being attacked by the others, who tried to prevent him from leaving.

Corrections says inmates continued to light fires and caused more damage last night.

But RNZ was able to speak with one of the prisoners this afternoon, calling the prison “inhumane”.

He said Corrections needed to start telling the truth and stop twisting history for its own reputation.

“They say we are causing riots, but we are not,” the man told RNZ.

“We are protesting for a cause and that is why we have come so far.

“We will sit here as long as necessary, we would die for this cause.

“Inside or outside the door, we are all human and we want to be treated that way.”

He said Corrections had been telling the media that they were concerned about the health and safety of the prisoners.

“Well if they are, why are they still letting us drink our own urine?”

The inmate told RNZ that they want the media to be able to come in and speak to them directly.

“They keep saying that it is not safe for the media to enter, but why did they let Kaumātua and Rawiri [Waititi] You came yesterday? “