The Hamilton coroner has confirmed that an inquest will be held for a prison officer who was slain while on duty.
Jason Palmer was knocked unconscious by an inmate at Spring Hill prison in Waikato on 15 May. His life support was turned off in hospital the next day.
Coroner Gordon Matenga called for submissions on whether he should resume an inquiry into Mr Palmer's death and hold an inquest.
Both sides of Mr Palmer's family are divided on the usefulness of such a hearing.
But Mr Matenga has now ruled the inquiry will resume and proceed to an inquest in the new year, on a date yet to be determined.
