Waikeria prison uprising: inmates say they will protest ‘for as long as it takes’

By Riley Kennedy of RNZ

The 16 men at the top of the Waikeria prison say Corrections must begin to tell the truth about what is really going on, and that they will sit there “as long as it takes.”

The men have been locked in a high-security building since Tuesday, when they lit several bonfires 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.

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

The Department of 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 the Department of Corrections needed to start telling the truth and stop misrepresenting the story 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 go in there 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? “

Corrections have been contacted for comment.

– RNZ