A man was found dead in his cell on Saturday. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A prisoner has died and another has been injured in a separate event at Auckland Prison.
A man was found dead in his cell on Saturday and the Department of Corrections was investigating, though it said his death was not suspicious and had been referred to the coroner.
Auckland Prison general manager Steve Parr said the man was not double bunked in his cell.
Staff also intervened in a fight between four prisoners on Sunday, where one prisoner sustained what Corrections calls a puncture wound.
No staff were injured.
He was taken to hospital but was expected to return to prison on Monday.
"The perpetrators were relocated to the management unit and have been placed on directed segregation," Parr said.
"Prisons can be volatile environments, and we are constantly working to ensure our prisons provide the safest environment possible for staff and prisoners.
"Auckland Prison accommodates the country's most dangerous and volatile people. Many prisoners have long histories of antisocial behaviour, and can behave unpredictably and act without warning."
Over 80 percent of the prison population have convictions for violence in their offending histories, Parr said.
"We have a zero tolerance for violence policy, and any violence or assaults against other prisoners or staff is not tolerated in prisons."
Parr said any prisoner using violent behaviour would be held to account, including facing criminal charges.
Police were investigating the fight.
Focus on Taser
A criminal defense lawyer said the investigation would be complex. Marie Dyhrberg previously represented a man who died in police custody after being Tasered and fitted with a spit hood incorrectly.
She said an investigation would uncover factors "that are not easily identified or obvious" at first glance.
"Obviously the first thing is going to be what the Independent Police Conduct Authority make of what has happened," she told RNZ's Midday Report on Monday.
"The other thing is there will be an autopsy on the person who has died, because there could be something involving condition that made that person more vulnerable to what actually happened.
"There are of course more vulnerable people subject to Tasers, and those are the ones where, for example, they might have an existing pre-existing medical condition, particularly the heart. They could be mental health, which of course hypes them up; pregnant women, children, elderly, and those under the influence of drugs, so they are potentially more at risk."
She said not all Tasers yet had on-board cameras, but if this one did, it would be "very helpful" to investigators.
"There are cases where Taser is justified - when there is no other option, and that the danger to the public or to the police or to the person themselves is such that any other lesser risky tactical options are just ineffective - and the decision has to be made to Taser…
"Of course, the purpose of the Taser is it is one level down from lethal weaponry such as a gun."
She said police had a high bar to clear in order to justify using a Taser, and "over time… quite serious guidelines" had been put in place.
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