Not allowing prisoners to vote is being labelled a dangerous precedent, with claims it could be extended to other groups considered unfavourable.

A Brazilian woman who helped identify escaped murderer Phillip John Smith will visit New Zealand after a local man offered to pay for her holiday.

New Zealand man faces a hefty fine or years behind bars in an overcrowded Thai jail after he was allegedly caught in possession of illegal drug.

An Auckland Prison officer has been suspended as the Department of Corrections seeks answers on how convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip Smith fled the country.

The Wanganui man charged with helping convicted murderer and child molester Phillip Smith get a false passport met him in prison seven years ago.

Dutch researchers have claimed it's possible three inmates who escaped from Alcatraz in 1962 could have survived - but only if their timing was perfect.

Murderer and child sex offender Phillip John Smith's claims that he was aided in his escape to Brazil by a prison guard have angered inmates.

Lawyer for convicted murderer and child abuser told Radio New Zealand this morning that prison officials had stripped away his client's dignity.

Nearly three dozen prisoners awaiting trial in a crowded jail in a provincial city north of the Haitian escaped by sawing through steel bars, authorities said.

Leeza Ormsby, 38, was two days into a holiday in Bali when she was caught with 0.8g of marijuana - a half-smoked joint - in her handbag.

A Singaporean man who married his long-time girlfriend in New Zealand has been jailed for two months in Singapore for bigamy.

The Department of Corrections underestimated Phillip Smith when they planned his temporary release from prison, an inquiry has found.

The Government has confirmed the terms of reference for an independent inquiry into the escape of convicted killer Phillip Smith.

The victims of convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip Smith have approached a lawyer to represent them. So what are they seeking?

Captured killer Phillip John Smith has confirmed he received help in renewing the passport he used to flee the country.

Phillip John Smith will voluntarily return to NZ to escape harsh conditions in the Brazilian jail system, says his lawyer.

Phillip Smith tried to extort $25,000 from a man who later killed himself, court documents reveal.

Corrections officials say the prison population has unexpectedly risen this year, and they believe one of the causes is hardline bail laws introduced by Judith Collins.

The prison where Phillip Smith is being held was two years ago condemned by the UN as it packed in 30 inmates to a cell, was infested with roaches and was leaking.

The British outsourcing giant that operates Auckland's Mt Eden prison is facing major financial strife, with its boss warning jobs will be slashed.

The man who raised fugitive killer Phillip Smith said he has not heard from him since their last phone conversation two weeks ago.

Prime Minister John Key has apologised to the family of the victims of Phillip Smith, saying his joke was a 'poorly placed attempt at humour'.

Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga is defending his handling of the escape of a high-risk prisoner as his department was forced to put all prisoner releases on hold.

All temporary releases for prisoners will be suspended in the wake of convicted murderer Phillip John Smith escaping while on release, Corrections says.

PM said he would let Chile's President know "there's someone who could be out there from New Zealand that you may not want to invite round for lunch".