Ngawha Prison guard recovers after second assault in four days

A guard at Ngawha Prison, above, has been bashed twice in the past week.

A prison guard at Ngawha Prison has been assaulted twice in less than four days and is recovering at home from his injuries.

Michael Rongo, prison director at Northland Regional Corrections Facility (Ngawha Prison), said prison management were investigating two assaults at the jail.

The first assault against the guard took place on Friday last week and the second, against the same guard, on Monday.

After the incident last Friday the officer took his scheduled weekend off and returned to work on Monday, but he was again assaulted. It is not clear if it was the same person or people who assaulted him

Mr Rongo said the officer received treatment for a nose injury after the second incident and is recovering at home.

He said police would be informed.

"Corrections has a zero tolerance towards violence policy. No assault against staff or other prisoners will be tolerated in prison however, unfortunately from time to time this will occur," Mr Rongo said.

"Any prisoner who does use violence towards staff or fellow prisoners will be held to account."

Charges have yet to be laid in relation to the assaults.