12 February 2012 - 11:25 pm NZ time
Listen live or
listen again here
Sunday at 12:15 pm, repeated at 12:30am Tuesdays and 7:30pm on Wednesdays.
Listen to this programmeSpectrum for 4 October 2009 (duration: 23′24″)
Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed


Have you ever wanted to spend a day in jail, just to see what it's like? Invercargill Prison open day offered an opportunity to do just that. General public with no criminal record are allowed through the electrified and razor-wired fences for a guided tour of the minimum to low medium security facility - and allowed out again the same day. For Spectrum, Sage Forest joined the visitors.
Prison staff chat about their sense of community and public service, with just a hint of the dangers they face. Confiscated tattoo guns and an innovative range of hand-made weapons are on display, as is the equipment occasionally needed to restrain unruly prisoners.
Inmates are safely locked away as the tours go through, but their presence is felt. The eyes at the cell doors, laughter from the yard during a game of ball.

Executive Producer: Jack Perkins
Produced and presented by Jack Perkins, Deborah Nation and David Steemson
email: spectrum@radionz.co.nz
mail: P O Box 123, Wellington
Spectrum is a long-running documentary series – it began in 1972 – which captures the essence of New Zealand through stories, landscape and people.
more information about Spectrum
Find a documentary near you...
View Spectrum in a larger map
The link(s) below can be pasted into your podcasting software.
For more podcasts and the conditions of use, please see our podcast page.
There are 282 audio items in the programme library
Audio is categorised based on the frequency of the programme it was heard in. Click on the headings below to access the programmes. If you are unsure where to look, try the latest audio page.
Streams are in Windows Media format. Mac and Linux users see our help section.
If you use Windows Vista and streaming has stopped working see our help section.
Downloads and Podcasts are available on selected programmes. Our podcast page has a complete list of feeds.