Waikeria Prison: Corrections Minister won't step in to negotiate stand-off
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis won't step in over the Waikeria Prison stand-off, a spokesman says.
It comes after Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi called for Davis to resolve the situation “immediately”, saying conditions at the prison are “inhumane”.
A spokesman for Davis said on Thursday the minister would not be commenting on the situation until it is resolved.
“We just need to give Corrections and the emergency services the space they need to do their job safely,” he said.
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“We don’t need to have politicians going in and getting involved in the meantime.”
Waititi, who is also the MP for Waiariki, visited the prison in Ōtorohanga on Thursday night to speak with the 16 men who have taken over the prison in protest.
“I went there because I was invited by our brothers,” he said.
“They are clear that this is not a riot, it is a protest for their human rights for all inmates past and present.”
The inmates took control of the prison’s top jail on Tuesday afternoon, burning buildings and camping out on the roof of a unit.
Photos taken from the air by Stuff showed prisoners in collapsible chairs while helmeted guards were seen carrying shields on the ground below.
An entire wing, at least 100 metres long, appeared destroyed with the roof a tangled web of debris.
The inside of the majority of the buildings in the facility were gutted and charred.
One member of the group surrendered on Thursday afternoon.
“Prior to surrendering he was assaulted by the others, who attempted to prevent him from leaving,” a Corrections spokesperson said.
Prisoners have thrown objects at Corrections staff patrolling the area, the spokesperson said.
“We have highly trained staff with specialist skills who are continuing to negotiate with the prisoners involved, supported by police.”
The environment at the prison is “dehumanising”, Waititi said.
“The water they are expected to drink is brown. They don’t get clothing or appropriate bedding. They are expected to wash their clothes in the yard shower.”
Waititi said Davis championed the same issue in 2015, when he visited Christmas Island.
At the time, Davis said conditions at the Australian government’s detention centre were “disgraceful”.
Up to 24 detainees were forced to sleep on top of black plastic rubbish bags in a small “cage” with no ceiling or toilet, Davis said.
Some were given only dried noodles and three loaves of bread.
They were also given a water bottle every three to four hours in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and would urinate in the water bottles because they didn't have a toilet, he said.
Christmas Island detainees are “subjected to similar conditions as our men at Waikeria”, Waititi said.
“This situation is indicative of a dysfunctional justice system that has been failing our people for years.
“For a Government who prides itself on kindness, they have allowed for an inhumane environment to fester. They are willingly allowing for breaches of basic human rights to occur. They need to sort it out now.”
Earlier, Corrections staff made arrangements to allow the inmates to speak with kaumātua.
“An operation involving support from our Advanced Control and Restraint staff was planned to enable this to happen safely,” Corrections said in a statement.
“However, [it] did not resolve the situation.”