Hawke's Bay Prison was locked down for most of yesterday after a gang fight between 11 Mongrel Mob and Black Power members.
Corrections Department spokesman Stephen Jones said the fight started after the cells were unlocked at 8.35am.
It lasted just one minute and resulted in one man receiving stitches for a
cut lip. A punch was thrown during the con frontation.
The fight was quickly brought under control by prison staff.
No Corrections Officers were injured.
``It appears to be between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power. We do not quite know yet how it started or why it started,' Mr Jones said.
Mr Jones said the cells went into lockdown after the fight was broken up.
The department said it would start an investigation once the lockdown was lifted, and talk to the prisoners involved.
Police would also be investigating.
Mr Jones said he was not sure of the exact number of fights at the prison so far this year but fights between gangs were ``reasonably rare'.
