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A former inmate at the Waikeria prison has dismissed claims of poor prison conditions, claiming the presence of deported Australian gang members was a more likely cause of the unrest.
The prison was the scene of a five-night standoff, in which prisoners set several fires that destroyed the prison’s “upper jail” facilities.
Relatives of the protesters said their complaints about conditions in the prison were dismissed before the protest took place.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Guards from the Waikeria prison unit, which has been the scene of a riot after fires were lit in an exercise yard.
However, the former inmate Stuff He spoke, who wished to remain anonymous, said he believed the most likely cause of the problem was Mongolian and Comancher gang members, five of whom were deported from Australia.
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“It’s just … touching,” he said.
“When they were deported, they should have been put directly into maximum security.”
The man also dismissed claims that the prisoners were dressed in dirty clothes and denied access to water.
“A lot of shit. We have a clothing locker, go down there, change your clothes. “
MARK TAYLOR / Stuff
National Party Corrections spokesman Simeon Brown, pictured outside the Waikeria prison, said an independent investigation was needed into the unrest at the prison.
He admitted that the tap water was “s …” but claimed that the prisoners received bottled drinking water, including bottles from a cooler in the summer months.
“You could go and help yourself,” he said.
“They are full of shit.”
National Corrections spokesman Simeon Brown said Stuff he wanted an independent investigation to be launched into the prison riots, including an examination of the role of deported Australian motorcycle gang members.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Prisoners can be seen on the roof of a unit at Waikeria prison after the riots that began Tuesday.
“We cannot remain naive as a country about the increasing number of gangs that we are seeing, including 501,” he said.
“This cannot just be an internal investigation.”
Brown said he wanted any investigation to get to the bottom of what prompted the riot and what plans Corrections had to deal with such a scenario.
Brown’s call was echoed by John Baron-Crangle, also a former Waikeria inmate.
“Each of those prisoners should be interviewed independently, a great question, but if 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 a problem, as were prisoners who spent too much time in their cells.
“The staff have not been doing what they are supposed to do, the top management has covered it up,” he said.
“Everything flows from top management, heads should roll.”
Rotorua attorney Tim Braithwaite also backed claims that the prison was outdated and unsuitable for its purpose.
“Like Alcatraz, it is the most horrible place.”
Braithwaite also said he was not surprised by the disturbance.
“It’s only 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 are underway, an operational review being conducted by the Corrections custodial officer, an independent investigation led by the chief inspector and a police investigation.
