Prison bashing forces review

The Department of Corrections has reviewed its security procedures at Ngawha Prison after an inmate was viciously bashed despite the presence of surveillance cameras.
Matthew Te Hira was left with critical injuries after he was bashed in his cell by a group of prisoners in March last year.
High Court Judge Justice Priestley, who presided over the trial of the men who bashed Te Hira, expressed concern the attack occurred despite the presence cameras.
He made the comments while sentencing one of four prisoners involved in the  attacks.  
Corrections said it had taken steps to improve security and safety  to satisfy the judge's concerns, including buying extra security cameras for the prison.
A trial earlier this year heard  the prisoners took turns punching, kicking and stomping Te Hira inside his cell, which dripped with blood after the assault.
Arthur Briggs, Les Connelly, Stefan Hoeer, and Eru Te Whata were sentenced to a total of 31 years on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Briggs and Jonothan Poutai were found guilty after a jury trial while the others pleaded guilty during the trial. A date for sentencing Poutai will be set on September 10.
Justice Priestley said the beating of prisoners despite the presence of TV monitors and surveillance cameras was not something  Parliament, judges or the public expected.
He said it was unfortunate that Mr Te Hira was attacked.
"My hope is that some systemic failures inside Ngawha Prison are not repeated. Prisoners should be kept safe when they are incarcerated."
Justice Priestley referred to a comment by the then-Attorney-General of New Zealand in the 1980s that people were sent to prison to serve their punishment and not to get punished.
Department of Corrections assistant regional manager Jeanette Burns said that, as a consequence of the assault on Mr Te Hira, management of the Northland Region Corrections Facility had taken steps to prevent something similar   recurring.
"This includes more comprehensive planning to ensure effective staff supervision of prisoner activities. In the first instance, we will be discussing these changes with Mr Te Hira's family."
An independent Corrections Inspectorate's report into the incident had been finalised and the findings  would shortly be presented to the family of Mr Te Hira.
 Ms Burns said Corrections  could use  closed-circuit TV inside a prisoner's cell only if it suspected the prisoner  was at risk of harming himself.
"The assault on Mr Te Hira was carried out in a standard cell and away from camera monitoring. As part of his general management of the prison, the new manager has reviewed the standard of coverage provided by cameras across the entire site. As a result, he has instigated a work plan to significantly increase the functions and options provided by camera surveillance, including purchasing additional cameras to provide increased monitoring around the prison," she said.
"We agree with Judge Priestley's comment that the beating of prisoners despite the presence of TV monitors and surveillance cameras was not something that Parliament, judges or the public expected. Neither does Corrections."
Mr Te Hira's uncle, Harry Mahanga, said he  hoped  the incident would prompt changes at the prison.
"We don't want what happened to Matthew to happen again," he said.