In August, teenage inmates clashed with staff on the rooftop of Hawkes Bay Regional Prison. photo file. Photo: RNZ/Tom Kitchin
Riots erupted at the maximum security juvenile prison at Hawke’s Bay after officers asked inmates to remove graffiti from the walls before they were allowed to go outside to exercise.
During a 24-hour protest in August, teenage inmates ran out of the prison and climbed onto the roof, throwing debris from the building and causing extensive damage before being dissuaded by negotiators.
No one was seriously injured during the riots, but sources said prisoners threw 34 chisels and other objects at officers, one of which hit the 71-year-old guard in the back of the head.
One of the six youths charged in the incident pleaded guilty to rioting, vandalism and battery in Hastings Magistrates Court on Tuesday, with additional details of the riots released in court documents.
Noah Johnson, 18, emerged from prison via audiovisual link and was sent back to Tauranga Magistrates’ Court on November 24 by Judge Bridget McIntosh.
The fact sheet indicates that Johnson and others were in the common area of ​​the Part 2 Wing around 13:00 on 1 August.
Officials ordered them to remove the graffiti from the walls of their units. They were told that once this task was completed, they would be allowed to train outside.
The prisoners became aggressive, shouted obscenities at the guards and wanted to leave immediately.
They began damaging door hardware and throwing objects into the control room where the staff lived, while yelling at others in nearby Wing 1 to intervene.
Correctional officers entered Wing 2 to try to handle the situation, but were pushed and decided to evacuate all personnel “for safety”.
Johnson and the others then smashed out a plexiglass window to the outer courtyard and climbed onto the roof using the air conditioner.
They then entered Wing 1 through a large mesh panel in the ceiling, allowing the prisoners to join them.
For the next 24 hours, they refused to come down from the roof, instead breaking into several rooms in both wings, causing extensive damage and graffiti on them.
They removed various objects from the room to be used as weapons and projectiles, including chisels, wheelbarrows, food, electrical equipment, wood, metal pipes and doorknobs.
Prisoners aged 17 to 19 have been on the roof of the youth block since Monday afternoon.
The head of the penitentiary service said that it was impossible to express dissatisfaction by climbing onto the roof of the prison, while promising a full investigation.
Lower North Regional Commissioner Liz Hawthorne said staff immediately responded to the incident and spoke to prisoners.