Waikeria Prison riots

Last updated

Riots at New Zealand's Waikeria Prison broke out between 29 December 2020 and 3 January 2021. At least twenty-one male prisoners, who were dissatisfied with alleged 'poor living conditions', lit fires and broke out of the cell buildings, and ultimately destroyed the building known as the "Top Jail". [1] [2] The riots came to an end following negotiations involving Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and the remaining sixteen prisoners surrendered and were escorted out by Waititi at midday on Sunday 3 January.

Contents

Seventeen prisoners were later jointly charged with rioting, burglary using a weapon, and wilfully setting fire to property and endangering life. As of April 2021, all seventeen men have pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury, and are remanded in custody until early May 2021. [3]

History

Waikeria Prison is located in the town of Waikeria, 45 kilometres south of Hamilton in the Waikato. Built in 1911 with a capacity for 1,031 prisoners, it was once New Zealand's largest prison. In 2012, Prime Minister John Key announced the planned closure of several older prisons, based on lower needs after the creation of the new prison at Wiri, and ongoing maintenance concerns affecting the wellbeing of prisoners and staff. [4] Waikeria was kept open, but had several units closed, resulting in a capacity of 806 prior to the riots. [5]

In 2017 an independent report found the prison in "very poor condition", and the prison's design was criticised for making inmate supervision difficult. Investigators found issues with hygiene, as well as "significant influence" from gangs and noted that "violence was a regular part of prison life" in the high security facility (also known as the "Top Jail"). [5]

Riots

Beginning on 29 December 2020, rioting in Waikeria prison led to a fire that caused extensive damage to the prison's top jail facility, with roughly 250 beds destroyed. At least 21 prisoners were involved in the rioting, who subsequently clustered on the roof of the top jail facility. Four subsequently gave up while 17 remained non-compliant. [1] [2] According to Stuff and The New Zealand Herald , those involved in the prison unrest included members of the Comancheros and Mongols gangs including five deportees from Australia. [6] [7]

By 30 December, 49 non-participating prisoners had been evacuated to other prisons while another 163 men were temporarily moved to other locations within the prison. Dr Rawiri Waretini-Karena, an independent adviser to the Department of Corrections, attributed the rioting to the lack of access to rehabilitative education and Māori culture. [8]

Inmates and their relatives have also attributed the rioting to inhumane and unhygienic conditions including the lack of clean water and moldy bread. [9] [6] On 30 December, Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot confirmed that damage to Waikeria's top jail facility had been substantial and that it was unlikely that prisoners would be accommodated there again. The top jail facility was scheduled to be replaced with a new facility in 2022. [10]

On 2 January 2021, it was reported that the 16 remaining prisoners had accessed the weapons safe and improvised weapons. That same day, relatives of the prisoners along with Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, New Zealand National Party leader Judith Collins, and National Parry correction spokesperson Simeon Brown called on the Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis to intervene in the prison protest. Corrections officials had earlier denied Waititi, Brown and National MP Barbara Kuriger access to the prison, stating that they needed the permission of the Corrections Minister Davis. [9] [11]

On 3 January, the 16 remaining prisoners surrendered following negotiations involving Māori Party leader Waititi. During a press conference that same day, Corrections Minister Davis disputed claims that the prison uprising had been sparked by poor living conditions. Since the Waikeria top-jail building "was not fit for anything," remand prisoners housed at Waikeria would be accommodated at other prisons around the country. The Government has launched two inquiries into the causes of the five-day Waikeria prison unrest while the Human Rights Commission had called for a further independent enquiry by the Ombudsman. Due to the damage caused by the prison unrest, closure of the top jail is imminent with the building due to be replaced with a new facility the following year. [6] [7]

Aftermath

In September 2023, 16 prisoners were convicted and jailed for various offenses related to the Waikeria Prison riots. A 17th defendant pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to be tried in 2024. During their sentencings, several defendants unsuccessfully applied to have their culpability reduced due to what they termed "substandard" conditions at Waikeria Prison. Their petitions were rejected by several High Court judges including Justice Christine Gordon. The prison riot caused NZ$50 million worth of damage to the high security unit. [12]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Dillane, Tom; Kirkness, Luke (30 December 2020). "Waikeria uprising: Third of prison's bed capacity destroyed in riots". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 Hope, Sharnae (31 December 2020). "Waikeria Prison remains in lockdown as riot enters day 3". Stuff . Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Inmates plead not guilty to charges from Waikeria prison unrest". RNZ. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Key confirms prison closures". The New Zealand Herald . 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 Mather, Mike (2020-12-30). "Issues aplenty at Waikeria Prison long before fiery riots". Stuff. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  6. 1 2 3 "Waikeria Prison surrender: Family members claim complaints about 'disgusting' conditions made, despite Corrections saying otherwise". Stuff . 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Waikeria Prison rioters surrender after six-day stand-off; jail conditions not reason for unrest, says Kelvin Davis". The New Zealand Herald . 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Waikeria prison riot: 'Significant' damage after fires lit, prisoners on roof". Radio New Zealand . 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Corrections making 'untrue' comments about Waikeria Prison protest, inmates' families allege". 1 News . 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Waikeria prison uprising: Rioting inmates haven't been given any food". Newstalk ZB . 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Ensor, Jamie (2 January 2021). "Waikeria Minister: National MPs refused entry, Judith Collins critical of 'nowhere to be seen' Kelvin Davis". Newshub . Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Feek, Belinda (23 September 2023). "Waikeria prison riots: 16 of 17 prisoners jailed for $50m destruction". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attica Prison riot</span> 1971 prisoner rebellion in New York

The Attica Prison Riot, also known as the Attica Prison Rebellion, the Attica Uprising, or the Attica Prison Massacre, took place at the state prison in Attica, New York; it started on September 9, 1971, and ended on September 13 with the highest number of fatalities in the history of United States prison uprisings. Of the 43 men who died, all but one guard and three inmates were killed by law enforcement gunfire when the state retook control of the prison on the final day of the uprising. The Attica Uprising has been described as an historic event in the prisoners' rights movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folsom State Prison</span> Prison in Folsom, California, United States

Folsom California State Prison is a California State Prison in Folsom, California, U.S., approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of the state capital of Sacramento. It is one of 34 adult institutions operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Mexico Corrections Department</span>

The New Mexico Corrections Department is a state agency of New Mexico, headquartered in unincorporated Santa Fe County, near Santa Fe. It the department operates corrections facilities, probate and parole programs, a prisoner reentry services, and an offender database.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry</span> Law enforcement agency

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, commonly and formerly referred to as simply the Arizona Department of Corrections, is the statutory law enforcement agency responsible for the incarceration of inmates in 13 prisons in the U.S. state of Arizona. As of December 2015, the ADC manages over 42,643 imprisoned inmates and over 5,466 inmates who have been paroled or that are statutorily released. ADC is also in involved in recruitment and training of Correctional Officers at the Correctional Officer Training Academy (COTA) in Tucson, Arizona. The ADC is headquartered in Downtown Phoenix.

The Department of Corrections is the public service department of New Zealand charged with managing the New Zealand corrections system. This includes the operations of the 18 prisons in New Zealand and services run by Probation. Corrections' role and functions were defined and clarified with the passing of the Corrections Act 2004. In early 2006, Corrections officially adopted the Māori name Ara Poutama Aotearoa.

Parklea Correctional Centre, a privately managed Australian maximum and minimum security prison for males, is located at Parklea, in the north-western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. The facility is operated by MTC Ventia and has a current capacity for 1,350 inmates. The Centre accepts prisoners charged and convicted under New South Wales and/or Commonwealth legislation and incorporates a minimum-security work-release centre for inmates nearing release with a capacity of 120. A Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional unit is incorporated within the centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CoreCivic</span> U.S. prison-operating company

CoreCivic, formerly the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), is a company that owns and manages private prisons and detention centers and operates others on a concession basis. Co-founded in 1983 in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas W. Beasley, Robert Crants, and T. Don Hutto, it received investments from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Vanderbilt University, and Jack C. Massey, the founder of Hospital Corporation of America.

A prison riot is an act of concerted defiance or disorder by a group of prisoners against the prison administrators, prison officers, or other groups of prisoners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holman Correctional Facility</span> Alabama prison and execution center

William C. Holman Correctional Facility is an Alabama Department of Corrections prison located in Atmore, Alabama. The facility is along Alabama State Highway 21, 9 miles (14 km) north of Atmore in southern Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon State Penitentiary</span> Prison in Salem, Oregon, U.S.

Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP), also known as Oregon State Prison, is a maximum security prison in the northwest United States in Salem, Oregon. Originally opened in Portland 173 years ago in 1851, it relocated to Salem fifteen years later. The 2,242-capacity prison is the oldest in the state; the all-male facility is operated by the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC). OSP contains an intensive management wing, which is being transformed into a psychiatric facility for mentally ill prisoners throughout Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Ohio Correctional Facility</span> Maximum security prison in Scioto County, Ohio, U.S.

The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison located just outside Lucasville in Scioto County, Ohio. The prison was constructed in 1972. As of 2023, the warden is Cindy Davis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GEO Group</span> American institutional facilities company

The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) is a publicly traded C corporation that invests in private prisons and mental health facilities in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, the company's facilities include illegal immigration detention centers, minimum security detention centers, and mental-health and residential-treatment facilities. It also operates government-owned facilities pursuant to management contracts. As of December 31, 2021, the company managed and/or owned 86,000 beds at 106 facilities. In 2019, agencies of the federal government of the United States generated 53% of the company's revenues. Up until 2021 the company was designated as a real estate investment trust, at which time the board of directors elected to reclassify as a C corporation under the stated goal of reducing the company's debt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelvin Davis (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Kelvin Glen Davis is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives, and was a senior minister in the Sixth Labour Government and the deputy leader of the New Zealand Labour Party from 2017 to 2023.

Arthur William Taylor is a high-profile former prison inmate who served time in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, Auckland, New Zealand. In 2016 he had spent 38 years in prison and had a total of 152 convictions. As a prison inmate, he achieved a public profile as a "prison lawyer" due to initiating court action on behalf of himself and prisoners' rights. In 2017, he initiated successful legal action on behalf of former prisoner David Tamihere. On 24 January 2019, Taylor's appearance before a parole board resulted in parole being granted, and he was released on 11 February 2019. He had said not long before release that he wanted to gain a law degree and continue his social work.

Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility is a minimum to maximum security correctional facility in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. It is the largest correctional facility in the territory. During the construction phase the temporary name was Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prisons</span> Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted prisons globally. There have been outbreaks of COVID-19 reported in prisons and jails around the world, with the housing density and population turnover of many prisons contributing to an increased risk of contracting the virus compared to the general population. Prison crowding and lack of sanitation measures contribute to the risk of contracting diseases in prisons and jails. As a mitigation measure, several jurisdictions have released prisoners to reduce density and attempt to reduce the spread of the illness. There have also been protests among prisoners, riots and prison breaks in multiple countries in response to prisoner anger over their risk of contracting illness in prison conditions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health services within prisons had issues providing adequate care for incarcerated people, and this has only been exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19. Minority groups within the prison system have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rawiri Waititi</span> New Zealand politician

Rawiri Wikuki Waititi is a New Zealand politician and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori alongside Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Waiariki since 2020, when his election returned Te Pāti Māori to the New Zealand Parliament following their defeat at the 2017 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila City Jail</span> Jail in Manila

The Manila City Jail, popularly known as Old Bilibid Prison, is a detention center in Manila, Philippines. It is one of the most overcrowded jails in the world.

Incarceration in Oklahoma is how inmates are rehabilitated and reformed. Incarceration in Oklahoma includes state prisons and county and city jails. Oklahoma has the second highest state incarceration rate in the United States. Oklahoma is the second in women's incarceration in the United States. After becoming a state in 1907, the first prisons were opened and reform began.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.