The family of Junior Togatuki still have many questions about his death in prison. Photo: Supplied
The family of a young New Zealander who died in an Australian prison is demanding answers.
Junior Togatuki, 23, was going to be deported to New Zealand despite a plea to Australia's immigration minister.
His seven-year sentence for robbery and assault ended in August, but he was kept in a high-security prison in New South Wales waiting to be deported.
Junior was four years old when he left New Zealand. His sister, Jean Togatuki, said he had no memory of the country, and he had written to Australia's immigration minister Peter Dutton begging to be allowed to stay in Australia.
He died two weeks ago; the authorities say he took his own life.
Ms Togatuki said the family was left with many questions and had only found out about his mental health problems, including schizophrenia, in the letter to the Minister.
“I want to know what happened to him. I want to know who the prison officers who were taking care of him. I want everything. I want to know when did he get sick? When did he get medication? When did this all start for him? 'Cause we don't even know when he was diagnosed.”
Ms Togatuki said her brother was initially worried about being deported.
“He was shocked. He doesn't have any memory of New Zealand. He wasn't really sure about going back, he didn't want to leave us because he didn't know anything or anyone there.
“But then he came to warm to it. He actually accepted he was going back. He was looking forward to going back to New Zealand to start afresh.”
Ms Togatuki said the family had a call from Junior shortly before he died, when he said he was worried the prison guards were "going to get him" and if he wasn't helped, the family "wouldn't hear from him again".
She said the next they heard from the prison was that there had been an accident, and her brother was dead.
She believes if Junior had had Australian citizenship, the outcome would have been very different.
Radio New Zealand has been asking for an interview with the Australian Department of Immigration since Friday, about New Zealanders in detention centres there.
If you need to talk to someone about your own mental health, try these helplines. If it is an emergency, call 111.
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
Healthline - 0800 611 116
Samaritans - 0800 726 666 (for callers from the Lower North Island, Christchurch and West Coast) or 0800 211 211 / (04) 473 9739 (for callers from all other regions)
Suicide Crisis Helpline (aimed at those in distress, or those who are concerned about the wellbeing of someone else) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Youthline - 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
A version of this story was first published on radionz.co.nz.