Climbing onto a prison roof is no way to air a grievance, Corrections' chief custodial officer says, while promising a full inquiry.
Some of the youths on the roof of the prison. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
The last of the six young inmates left the roof of Hawke's Bay Regional Prison about 1.15pm this afternoon, after they made their way up there almost 24 hours earlier.
They jumped off - about a three metre drop - were restrained on the ground and taken away in a van.
The Department of Corrections said it seemed the 17- to 19-year-olds were not happy because they could not use the youth unit's sports area.
Corrections Chief custodial officer Neil Beales told Checkpoint thanks needed to go to the prison negotiating staff who worked on resolving the situation all night.
"They've done an exceptional job under the guidance of the prison manager and the prison director and his team who have worked through the night. It's an exceptional piece of work and I'm just glad that everyone's able to go home safe and sound at the end of the day."
Despite it being a freezing night and some dressed only in singlets and other light clothing, the inmates could have egged each other on and there would have been some testosterone involved, Beales said.
Whatever they were upset about they should have chosen other ways to make their opinions known rather than head for the roof, he said.
"That's no way of dealing with an issue. We have a complaints process, we have a system for them to raise concerns."
A full review would be carried out and any lessons would be applied throughout the prison system, he said.
Neil Beales is determined to get to the bottom of exactly what happened at the prison. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The men had been told they could use the sports area earlier in the day, however, because of a situation that arose, possibly some untidiness the offer was withdrawn.
"Something had gone wrong throughout that day ... this will be part of the review."
The prisoners were seen with blankets and food so how those supplies were given to the inmates would also be part of the review process.
He said there was no suggestion that staff shortages led to the decision to cancel access to the sports area.
Before calling off their protest, the prisoners had been throwing items off the roof, such as projectiles and pieces of wood.
They also started to try to engage with gathered media - listening to broadcasts and shouting about them as they went to air.
They could be heard yelling things like "it's because they didn't let us outside," "we're happy" and "play us on the radio".
Prisoners on top of the youth unit at Hawke's Bay Region Prison. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
'We've got the result' - Corrections Minister
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said he wanted to "make sure that this sort of situation doesn't reoccur".
"I just want to acknowledge the work of the Corrections officers - they're highly professional, well trained and brought this to a safe conclusion."
He was asked if it was good enough that the youths could get on to the roof of a prison.
"These people are in prison for a reason - their behaviour hasn't been the best to get them there and I guess it's just an ongoing way they behave. It's unfortunate but again, we've got the result - they've come down, nobody's been injured."
JustSpeak is a youth law advocacy group.
Its executive director Aphiphany Forward-Taua said their behaviour was a reflection on the prison system.
"It's a call for help, from young people who are evidently feeling distressed and feeling unheard."
She was "scared'' about the consequences the group would face.
She had a message for Corrections: "Listen to what these young people have to say - how they're feeling, what their needs are and do their best to support them.
"These are young people - these are our future and we want them to feel like they can be a part of our society so part of that means we need to provide them with rehabilitation and therapy and also wraparound support where they feel like they are seen, they are heard."
