Inmate charged with kidnapping after hostage incident

An 36-year-old inmate has been charged with kidnapping after a Corrections officer was taken hostage at Auckland's Paremoremo prison earlier today.

Police said an inmate armed with a fire extinguisher and a 911 safety rescue tool - used to cut seatbelts off crash victims or stop prisoners self-harming - took the male prison officer hostage at about 10am.

Inspector Les Paterson of North Shore City Police said the inmate jammed a piece of metal to lock the 55-year-old officer in a room in the main part of the prison.

Inspector Paterson said neither the extinguisher or "safety device used by enforcement authorities" added any serious danger to the situation and the officer was not injured.

He said the incident lasted less than half an hour before a senior prison official talked the prisoner into surrendering.

Police enquiries are continuing and the inmate is expected to appear in North Shore District Court next week.

- NZHERALD STAFF