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National Party deputies have been turned away at the door while trying to visit the Waikeria prison.
The protest at Ōtorohanga jail is now in its fifth day, and inmates are still camped out on the roof after burning buildings.
National Corrections spokesperson Simeon Brown and National Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger tried to visit the prison on Saturday but were turned away.
TOM LEE / THINGS
Jeremy Lightfoot, Executive Director of Corrections, speaks to the media about the ongoing riots at the Waikeria prison.
They were hoping to speak to Corrections staff to offer them some support, but were told they needed the permission of Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis if they wanted to enter.
READ MORE:
* Waikeria Prison Riot: ‘Violent’ inmates storm gun room, fear staff could be attacked
* Waikeria Prison: the Minister of Corrections will not intervene to negotiate the confrontation
* The prisoner surrenders on day 3 of riots, while inmates ask MP for help
“Under normal circumstances, we could go in but the prison is in an emergency situation, so we were told that we needed Kelvin’s permission,” Brown told reporters posted outside the prison gate.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Opposition leader Judith Collins said her thoughts were with the entire Waikeria Prison Corrections staff.
He intended to call Davis’s office to see if he could get permission, but he wasn’t sure how successful it would be.
“I’ll try. What we’ve seen here is significant damage to a prison that has been completely destroyed.
“It is not a peaceful protest, it is a violent riot that puts responding personnel at risk at a difficult time.
“We have staff who are doing their best, they have left their vacation to work in the prison.”
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said staff dealing with the incident do not need politicians to interfere.
Kuriger said the prison was in his constituency and that he had met many people who worked there.
“Really the minister [Kelvin Davis] he should be here with his staff right now. “
Brown and Kruiger were last in prison in May, when Brown was appointed party spokesman for Corrections.
“We want to send a clear message to Kelvin, he should be here supporting his staff, who are doing everything they can to bring law and order to the situation,” Brown said.
MARK TAYLOR / Stuff
National Party Corrections spokesman Simeon Brown was denied entry to the prison on Saturday.
“This is the fifth day in a row. We have prisoners who manufacture weapons and endanger staff.
“But we also have 250 prisoners who have had to be transferred, their rehabilitation and reintegration is being affected.”
Earlier, National Party leader Judith Collins asked Davis to step up and explain how inmates took control of the main jail facilities.
Writing on his Facebook account, Collins said: “The taxpayer-funded mass destruction of property, assaulting Corrections staff and stockpiling weapons is not a peaceful protest.”
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, who is also an MP for Waiariki, visited the prison in Ōtorohanga and spoke with the 16 men who have seized the prison in protest. (Photo file)
“Kelvin Davis needs to be upfront and explain how this loss of control happened and what he’s going to do to fix it,” he wrote.
“He was perfectly happy to brag about the opposition prisons, but now that he’s in charge, he’s nowhere to be seen.”
Earlier, a Davis spokesman confirmed that he will not intervene or comment on the situation until it is resolved.
On Thursday, one of the 17 prisoners involved in the protest surrendered, after the group of prisoners asked the leader of the Maori Party, Rawiri Waititi, to help them with their demands.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Prisoners can be seen on the roof of a unit at Waikeria Prison after riots that began Tuesday.
The remaining 16 prisoners appeared to be desperate for food and water after negotiators saw that they both refused to starve them to death.
Waititi, who is also a Waiariki deputy, said the men made it clear that this is not a riot.
“It is a protest for their human rights for all prisoners past and present.”
Meanwhile, Corrections Ministry Incident Controller Jeanette Burns said prisoners have had multiple opportunities to surrender and “we continue to urge them to make this option.”
Dominico Zapata / Things
Corrections said there has been extensive structural damage at the Waikeria prison after inmates set several fires.
“We do not want the men, our personnel or other emergency services personnel to be injured.
“When the prisoners surrender, they will be secured, searched, provided with food and water, evaluated by medical personnel and will have access to kaumatua and other support,” Burns said Saturday.
“We have a duty to care for these men, and they will likely remain in our custody for several years. We remain grateful for the support we have received from local iwi and kaumatua ”.
Burns said the incident is contained within the secure perimeter of the “upper jail” facility and that there is no risk to the safety of the public.
Waikeria inmates protest prison conditions and lack of supplies.
“We are absolutely committed to ensuring that this incident is resolved safely.
“There are multiple risks involved, including the structural integrity of fire-damaged buildings, weapons and equipment available to prisoners, the toxicity of burned building materials, and the violence offered by prisoners.”
Burns declined to comment on the negotiations, but indicated the support of the welfare officers, a psychology team, and kaumatua was available to staff at the scene.
“Correctional officers come to work every day to help people in prison make positive changes in their lives and keep New Zealanders safe. The conditions in which they are currently working and the level of violence involved has impacted them and is also distressing for their family and friends ”.
