By Caleb Fotheringham
Police are investigating complaints of drug use at a unit in Rimutaka prison.
Rimutaka Prison Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The unit, Te Korowai, houses child sex offenders and is based on the prison grounds outside the wired area.
Te Korowai residents are under strict conditions, including 24-hour supervision, a curfew and a zero tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol.
But one resident - a convicted pedophile - said residents were smoking synthetic cannabis while authorities turned a blind eye.
He said for the past month, three residents had been regularly smoking the drugs in the afternoon and evening.
The man said he had complained to police liaison officers several times, and community corrections staff six or seven times.
He said still no action against them had been taken.
The majority of people near the prison were not overly surprised or phased by the reported drug use.
One person said he did not really care what they did as long as it did not affect him.
Another person said the issue was being resolved. "It's not really a concern if it's being addressed," she said.
But not everyone is so relaxed.
One man said he was surprised that drugs were being used and was very concerned. While another man said he wanted the "screws tightened" on the issue.
Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy said all residents should be obeying the law and following the rules.
"It's unacceptable behaviour, absolutely unacceptable behaviour."
He planned to follow-up directly with corrections and police today.
In a statement, police said they were investigating reports of synthetic cannabis consumption.
They said they were working with Corrections to manage the safety of all residents. As a result of ongoing inquiries, police said they could not make any further comments.
In another statement, Corrections said the matter remained in the hands of police and would not comment further.