17 Jan 2012

Prisoners taken to wrong beach on fishing trip

12:02 pm on 17 January 2012

The Department of Corrections is investigating an incident at the weekend when a group of prisoners took seafood from a marine reserve.

Six Hawke's Bay prison inmates were taking part in a Whare Oranga Ake programme, which helps prisoners reconnect with their culture before being released.

Programme manager, Tania Luscombe, says an outing of snorkelling and collecting seafood was planned for the group of prisoners. However, they were taken to the wrong beach.

The group ended up fishing in Te Angiangi marine reserve, rather than Pourerere Beach, which is 10km north of the reserve.

Ms Luscombe says the catch was returned to the sea after an approach by the Department of Conservation.