Demonstrators return to Northland Prison site

By BRIDGET CARTER

Protesters have returned to the controversial Northland Prison site as construction on the 350-bed prison complex begins.

Prison project manager John Hamilton said a group of prison opponents were camping at the Ngawha site over the weekend for a "get together" about the building of the $132.8 million prison which starts this week on land they believe is sacred to Maori.

Mainzeal Construction had won a contract worth almost $80 million to build the prison, near Kaikohe, using up to 300 people, including many from Northland, Mr Hamilton said.

The earth works stage of the development finished on Saturday.

Mainzeal had already begun work on the prison's underground infrastructure for services such as sewerage, water and electricity and this week workers would probably start pouring concrete for the building's foundations.

There were about 60 workers on site.

Mr Hamilton said prison opponents were allowed to stay on site, provided they stuck to certain rules and protested peacefully.

One of the things causing a problem was the local Government requirement for hygienic toilet and washing facilities, he said.

"There have been some issues that will need to be resolved."

Mr Hamilton said that before the return of protesters this weekend, there had been one or two prison opponents on the 20ha site this year.

Most protesters left four months ago after police cleared car wrecks and a makeshift shelter from the site and arrested five people for blocking the site's main roadway.

It was the second time police had moved on to the site in large numbers since protesters began demonstrating against the facility a year ago.

Police arrested more than 30 objectors, including several kaumatua, last June for trespassing, but charges were dropped.