Prisoner found dead at Mt Eden prison

5:08 pm on 13 August 2015

An inmate has been found dead at under-fire Mt Eden prison.

Mt Eden Prison

Photo: RNZ

Corrections Department spokeswoman Jeanette Burns said the prisoner died today.

Both the police and the coroner have been notified.

Ms Burns said the prisoner's death would also be subject to a review by the Corrections inspectorate.

A police spokesperson said the man who died was a remand prisoner.

Police were told by phone of the death at 8.41am and were still in the process of telling his next of kin.

A post mortem would be held tomorrow morning.

Corrections last month announced it was appointing a director to manage the day-to-day running of the prison and would impose financial penalties on the prison's operator Serco.

It followed a number of allegations, including that prisoners were participating in organised fights at the prison, filmed by smuggled smartphones.

A spokesperson for Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said the minister had been informed and was seeking further information from the department.

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