Māori inmates have allegedly been punished for performing a haka in a South Auckland prison.
Labour corrections spokesperson Kelvin Davis was tipped off by an anonymous email informing him that eight Māori prisoners were removed from 'Self Care' for two months following the performance of a farewell haka to one of their kapa haka leaders who was being released from the Auckland South Corrections Facility.
Davis says prisoners should be encouraged for embracing their culture.
Director of Kohuora Auckland South Corrections Facility Mike Inglis says the allegation is not accurate and that prisoners were removed from Self Care to House Block accommodation for disobeying prisoner rules.