Toia v Prison Manager, Auckland Prison

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND REGISTRY

CIV-2011-404-7914 [2014] NZHC 867

UNDER

the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

AND

the Judicature Amendment Act 1972

BETWEEN

PAKI TOIA Plaintiff

AND

PRISON MANAGER, AUCKLAND PRISON

First Defendant

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Second Defendant

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL Third Defendant

Hearing:	16-19, 25-26 July, 19-21 August and 10 September 2013
Appearances:	Plaintiff in person (via AVL) IC Carter and PD Marshall for Defendants
Judgment:	30 April 2014

JUDGMENT OF BREWER J

This judgment was delivered by me on 30 April 2014 at 4:45 pm pursuant to Rule 11.5 High Court Rules.

Registrar/Deputy Registrar

Solicitors:               Crown Law (Wellington) for Defendants

(Copy to Plaintiff in person)

TOIA v PRISON MANAGER, AUCKLAND PRISON [2014] NZHC 867 [30 April 2014]

Table of Contents

Introduction ..........................................................................................................[1] Overview ...............................................................................................................[2] B Block .........................................................................................................[4] ARU..............................................................................................................[7]

D Block.......................................................................................................[15] The Law...............................................................................................................[20] Analysis

ARU............................................................................................................[26]

D Block.......................................................................................................[84] (a)    Locked in cell for 23½ hours each day .....................................[86] (b)    Denial of toothpaste ..................................................................[94] (c)    Required to remain on the landing outside his cell ...................[96] (d)    Denial of privacy .......................................................................[98] (e)    Not provided with opportunity for constructive use of time ....[105] (f)     Unhygienic conditions .............................................................[109] (g)    Visitor unlawfully turned away................................................ [113] (h)    Failure to action complaints ...................................................[121] (i)     Removing and failing to account for personal property .........[130] (j)     Denial of access to justice .......................................................[131] (k)    Sex discrimination ...................................................................[153] (l)     Denial of litigation resources ..................................................[164]

Decision .............................................................................................................[172] Remedy………………………………………………………………………..[177] Declaration………………………...………………………………………….[183] Costs ..................................................................................................................[184] Addendum.........................................................................................................[185]

Introduction

[1]      The plaintiff is a sentenced prisoner.  He sues the defendants for the way he has been treated in prison by the prison authorities.  He contends that they have breached his rights as a human being.

Overview

[2]      The plaintiff is not an easy man to hold in a prison.  He is defiant, aggressive and determined to live by his own norms of conduct.  For example, he has refused to take part in any of the rehabilitative programmes on offer.  He said in evidence that he himself is the only person who can rehabilitate him, so there is no point.

[3]      The plaintiff has spent a long time classified as a maximum security prisoner. That classification means he has been subject to the most restrictive regime for prisoners who are not under punishment.

B Block

[4]      In 2009 and early 2010, the plaintiff was held in B Block in the maximum security wing of Auckland Prison.  The cells in the wing have fronts of open-grilled bars.  Each cell has a lavatory and a hand basin. A prisoner using the lavatory has no privacy.  Anybody passing on the landing outside can see him.  Some of the prison officers are female.

[5]      A number of the prisoners obtained privacy by hanging a blanket over their cell front when they needed to use the lavatory.   This was tolerated by the prison officers.  The plaintiff, however, took to screening his cell front all the time.  The prison officers did not allow this.  Their duties include making regular checks on…