The Green Party are calling for the compassionate release of 77-year-old kaumatua Dean Wickliffe, New Zealand’s longest-serving prisoner, who has been on a hunger strike since March 10.
Wickliffe alleges he was assaulted by guards after refusing to be double-bunked at Spring Hill Prison near Meremere.
Greens Justice spokesperson Tamatha Paul says people in prisons are human beings and have human rights, therefore Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has a duty to uphold these rights.
She says Wickliffe is endangering his life to shed light to the cruelty that happens in prisons.
The integrity of our justice system is contingent on upholding human rights and assisting those in prisons to be rehabilitated and reintergrated successfully into our communities.
