Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
A High Court judge has ordered the Department of Corrections boss to obey the law or face contempt of court proceedings if he fails to make sure prisoners aren't let out of their cells for an hour every day.
Under New Zealand law, prisoners are entitled to at least one hour of physical exercise a day. The rights are further enshrined in United Nations standards.
In his judgement released this week, Wellington High Court Justice Jason McHerron found some inmates in Auckland Prison, the country's only maximum security prison, weren't allowed out of their cell for the minimum required period and was holding the Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot personally accountable.
Wellington human ri
Continue Reading on RNZ
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.