Bits of corrugated iron and insulation had been ripped from the roof during the standoff, a person near the scene on Kiwi Tamaki Rd told the Herald yesterday.
Several young people had “gained access to the roof” of the residence, Winter said yesterday.
Young people are seen on the roof of the Korowai Manaaki youth justice residence. Photo / Corey Fleming
He also confirmed there’d been “some damage to the residence during this incident”.
“But the rest of the site is secure, and day-to-day operations continue”, he said this morning.
“There is no risk to public safety, and those still on the roof are well within the confines of the facility.”
A cherry picker was also seen at the facility in the South Auckland suburb yesterday.
‘They got KFC and McDonald’s to come down’
In July 2023, several young people refused to come down off the same roof until a number of demands were met by OT.
OT deputy chief executive Tusha Penny told the AM Show at the time the situation had been resolved when food was brought in for the group.
“We did give them takeaways. So they got KFC and McDonald’s to come down. But like I said, we got them down safely after that period of time,” she said.
The group had remained on the roof for 30 hours in a tense standoff with authorities.
The following year another group of young people spent a night on the facility’s roof, with the Prime Minister saying at the time authorities wouldn’t cave to the group’s demands.
Youth pictured on the Korowai Manaaki youth justice facility in Wiri in October 2024. Photo / Carson Bluck
An NZME photographer at the site had earlier heard them demanding fast food, cigarettes and a getaway car.
The group were audibly demanding five large Big Mac combos from McDonald’s, cigarettes and a getaway car.
Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast at the time that authorities were doing a good job trying to get the group down.
“No, they’re not coming down for KFC,” Luxon said, referencing bargaining chips offered to youths at the same facility in July the previous year, and at the Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo youth justice facility near Christchurch.
Iain Chapman, Oranga Tamariki Acting DCE Youth Justice Services and Residential Care, told the Herald staff were engaging with the youths alongside police to bring them down safely.
While the NZME photographer had heard the demands shouted from the rooftop, the group had not made any requests directly to OT.
“We can confirm the young people have made no requests or demands to our staff on site and there are no concerns for public safety.”