Rimutaka Prison

Rimutaka Prison (then known as Wi Tako Prison) was founded in 1919 on a former rifle range in 'an area of 302 acres 1 rood 27 perches.' Intended as a low security, reform prison the institution received overflow inmates from the Terrace Gaol, which was already scheduled for demolition. The rehabilitation focus at Wi Tako Prison saw inmates active in food production and, for a time, making bricks. In Rebekah Bowling and Dr Liam Martin’s history of the prison, note the high quality of the Wi Tako Prison bricks saw them recycled in Athfield Architect’s Logan House, Eastbourne (1974).

In the 1960s growth in inmate numbers necessitated a complete re-building of prison buildings. Opening in October 1967 the new 'model' prison included 116 cells, seven houses for staff, a chapel and recreational facilities. The prison remained a relatively low security institution. This would change through the 1990s; Bowling and Martin record sprawling additions of various higher security and high-dependency units.

In 1990 descendants of Wiremu Tako Ngātata (Wī Tako, d.1887) lobbied to remove the name of their tipuna from the prison. The geographical name 'Rimutaka' was adopted in its place. "Despite the effort to consult with local authorities" Bowling and Martin explain, "member(s) of Kahungunu ki Wairarapa" were "dissatisfied" now that the prison would be associated with the "mountain range that held great meaning" for the Iwi of south-eastern Te-Ika-a-Maui. In 2017 research concluded that the conventional spelling of Rimutaka was corrected to Remutaka, however the institution’s name remains Rimutaka Prison.

According to Arts Access Aotearoa: "The history of whakairo (carving), undertaken by prisoners in Te Whare Whakaahuru (the Maori Focus Unit) at Rimutaka Prison, dates back to the time of kaumātua Jock McEwen, a Scottish writer, composer and carver who was passionate about Māori development… in retirement [he] masterminded the carvings for Kahukura, the meeting house at Orongomai Marae at Upper Hutt… led carving projects for houses at Rotorua, Pirinoa, Taita, Naenae and Upper Hutt colleges, as well as Waiouru military camp" and managed the carving of "[t]wo six-metre pou" for the foyer of the Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington)."

As of 2024 Rimutaka Prison is one of New Zealand's largest, all-male prisons. It operates inmate training in carpentry, painting, motor industry, engineering, and block laying, alongside employment in various maintenance and service jobs.

See also:

• Dr Liam Martin, Rimutaka Prison Project. Upper Hutt City Library
• A. R. Cairns. 'Ngātata, Wiremu Tako', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
• 'The roots of whakairo in Rimutaka Prison,’ Arts Access Aotearoa, 19 December 2011
• Rimutaka Prison: Department of Corrections webpage