Female prison hostage released unharmed

A prison staff member held hostage by an inmate at Prison in Auckland has been released unharmed and the prisoner restrained by police.

Police District Communications Manager Kevin Loughlin said the male prisoner was overpowered by police in the medium security section of the prison where the hostage was being held.

Corrections Department chief executive Barry Matthews earlier confirmed the hostage was a female staff member at the medium security facility.

"Both are locked in a cleaners' storeroom there," he told National Radio earlier this evening.

"We're talking with both people but particularly with the prisoner with the intention of resolving this and getting the door unlocked and the corrections officer released."

Mr Matthews could not say if the prisoner was armed but no demands had been made.

He said the officer worked with the prisoner.

"There would be obviously opportunities for the officer to be grabbed by the prisoner."

The staff member was "okay" but Mr Matthews said it was a "very traumatic" situation.

North Shore Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin earlier said the staff member was taken hostage about 3pm.

Police, the Fire Service and Ambulance officers are also at the scene at the west division prison annex Te Piriti Te Mahinga, near the rear of the prison.

A bus has been parked across the road in front of the building to prevent gathered media from seeing inside.

Two police officers were seen to retrieve bulletproof vests from their cars before returning inside the prison.

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF