Lockdown ends at Spring Hill prison after inmates lit fires

Saturday 16 August 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Sat 16 Aug 2025, 6:54pm

In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Department of Corrections

Spring Hill Corrections Facility near Meremere was placed on lockdown after a group of inmates lit fires and damaged property in the exercise yard. The incident, which involved between 10 and 11 prisoners, ended without injury to staff or inmates.

How they headlined it

4:40pm6:54pm

1. NZ HeraldSat 16 Aug 2025, 4:40pm

   Emergency services responding to fire at Spring Hill Prison, ‘developing incident’ (opens in new tab)

2. 1NewsSat 16 Aug 2025, 4:43pm

   Waikato prison in lockdown as inmates light fires, damage property (opens in new tab)

   • Lockdown lifted at Waikato prison after inmates riot (opens in new tab) Sat 16 Aug 2025, 4:43pm
3. StuffSat 16 Aug 2025, 4:43pm

   ‘Developing event’: Inmates light fires, damage property at Spring Hill prison (opens in new tab)

4. RNZSat 16 Aug 2025, 6:54pm

   Spring Hill Prison lockdown ends after inmates start riot, light fires (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab)