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Riots at the Waikeria prison are escalating, with inmates building makeshift weapons and raiding an equipment room for armor and batons.
Jeanette Burns, Incident Controller for the Ministry of Corrections, believes “violent” prisoners are planning to attack staff.
“Prisoners have continued to cause extensive damage to the facility, including forcibly entering restricted areas, including a room used to store tactical equipment including power tools, shields, batons and bulletproof vests,” Burns said.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Prisoners can be seen on the roof of a unit at Waikeria prison after the riots that began Tuesday.
“They have also built a series of makeshift weapons that we believe they are planning to use against staff and they have accessed a medical dispensary where controlled drugs are stored.”
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Burns said the buildings within the facility are significantly damaged and he is concerned about their structural integrity.
“Furthermore, we know that there are tensions between the prisoners themselves that can result in violence, evidenced by the aggression perpetrated against the man who turned himself in last night.”
Dominico Zapata / Things
Prisoners can be seen on the roof of a unit at Waikeria prison after the riots that began Tuesday.
“We remain concerned that men are putting themselves at significant risk by staying where they are.”
The riot began Tuesday after 17 inmates started several fires.
Inmates took control of the prison’s main jail Tuesday afternoon, burning buildings and camping on the roof of a unit.
Photos taken from the air by Stuff they showed the prisoners on folding chairs while the helmeted guards carried shields on the ground.
An entire wing, at least 100 meters long, appeared to be destroyed and the roof was a tangle of rubble.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Significant structural damage is seen at the Waikeria Prison, after inmates lit a fire.
The interior of most of the facility’s buildings was destroyed and charred.
A member of the group surrendered Thursday afternoon.
Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi visited the prison in Ōtorohanga on Thursday night to speak with the 16 men who have seized the prison in protest.
“They are clear that this is not a riot, it is a protest for the human rights of all prisoners, past and present,” he said.
Prominent activist Tame Iti was held in pretrial detention at Waikeria prison several times between 1998 and 2010 and described the conditions as “not suitable for a dog.”
Dominico Zapata / Things
Significant structural damage is visible from above at Waikeria Prison, after inmates lit a fire.
“It is a dungeon, a well. I wouldn’t even let my dogs in, ”Iti said.
“These things don’t happen by chance. I think these men are trying to make their voices heard. “
Iti said she wants to visit the prison and help with negotiations.
But Burns said that while the group claims they are protesting conditions in the prison and not riots, their actions were clearly violent.
“We have been approached by others who believe they can resolve the incident, which we have rejected,” he said.
“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.”
Burns said the prisoners will be provided water when they surrender, along with increased access to kaumatua.
