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Outside wall and entrance of historic Napier Prison. Author Pseudopanax.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Napier Prison 

Napier Prison is located in Napier, New Zealand,  it is known for its beautiful attractive scene to visitors. The prison was constructed in 1862 and decommissioned as a prison in 1993. The building serves as the oldest prison complex in New Zealand.

Here are some of the top 10  fascinating facts about Napier Prison.

1.  The Prison also Served as an Orphanage and Physiatrist Unit

Apart from serving as a prison, Napier prison was used as an orphanage and a psychiatric unit. In the 19th century, the prison witnessed four hangings where John Purcell served as a  superintendent of the prison.  

2. It was Opened as a Tourist Attraction Site in 2002

From 2002 to date, Napier Prison has been serving as a historical tourist attraction site. The prison also serves as an entertainment center. Napier prison has guided day and night tours conducted by the visitors. The most interesting thing about the building is that it is possible to see the original path of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

3. The Prison Hosted the Filming of the Redemption Hill Show

In 2006, the prison was chosen to be the host of the redemption Hill show when it was being filmed. The show was a reality New Zealand series where 10 young adults were likely to enter a life of crime.

The prison played a very important role in the series since it involved a  course of discipline and adventure activities. These activities were organized by a “warden”  the role played by Steve Boxer. The show also had time behind bars in Napier prison, which was decommissioned in 1993 and fully turned into a tourist attraction site.

4. Napier Prison has Self- Guided Tours

The Prison which is currently open to the public has Self Guided Audio Tours and also the  Escape Room Experience. The tours are available daily from 9 am-5 pm, the most interesting thing about the tours they do not require pre-booking.

The audio tours are available in 15 different languages. Tourists enjoy Listening to stories of villains, victims, and heroes while their move around the different cells. Most of the people visiting the prison enjoy being locked up in solitary confinement and padded before they can step into the yard and walk around the graveyard.

5. The Custodian of the Prison is the Waaka Family

In  2002 the prison got new custodians called the Waaka family. Marion and Toro Waaka who are the caretakers of the oldest penitentiary in New Zealand, help in protecting the most important New Zealand historical site by preserving, restoring, and sharing the life of the prison. The Waaka family ensures the prison survives to be visited by future generations.

Recently in 2021, the family applied requesting to be permitted in adding the  Napier Prison complex to the New Zealand Heritage List where they succeeded. Through this action, Napier Prison was recognized for its Historic Place as a category 1. This was because of its outstanding heritage values.

6. Napier Prison has Escape Rooms

Napier Prison. Author Floyd Wilde.

The oldest prison in New Zealand gives visitors a thrill of a real escape. The Prison specializes in escape room game activities which have active escape rooms. The prison also has a state-of-the-art escape room experience. The rooms have been equipped to make sure the visitors do not get tired when escaping the Prison.

The room escapes accommodating between 2 to 6 people. The prison has two identical rooms. These rooms give the visitors a challenge between their colleagues to see who escapes first.

7. Napier Prison is Near Shoreline Motel

The prison is located near Shoreline Motel which is adjacent to Napier Beach. The motel is a short minute walk from Napier Town. The motel has modern rooms and facilities with a fully equipped kitchenette. The motel also offers free parking.

8. The Prison has Experienced Reports of Ghostly Occurrences

In the past years, the prison has had many reports of ghostly occurrences. This report indicates incidences such as footsteps, disembodied faces, doors opening, and more. Some of these incidents are rated by one of the prisoners known as Roland Edwards. Roland was a mass murderer whose spirit up to date is said to haunt the area.

In July during his death anniversary unknown and paranormal activities are evident during this period.  Some New Zealand paranormal research teams have made several visits to the prison to conduct overnight investigations on the said reports to back up them.

9. The Prison is Located on Napier Bluff Hill

Napier Prison. Author Julie from New Zealand.

The historic oldest New Zealand prison is located on Napier’s Bluff Hill. Along 55 Coote Rd, the prison overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful Centennial Gardens. The prison also gives the visitors a great view of the old quarry. This was the quarry where the inmates in the prison used to work to construct the walls of the prisons that kept them imprisoned. Napier Prison is a few minutes from the town center and Marine Parade.

10. The Prison has Scurry Night Tours

Napier prison has Scare night tours which are conducted once a month on Saturday or Friday nights. The tours are guided after dark where the visitors are taken through the prison by a prison guard.

The prison has also been listed as one of the 6 most haunted places in New Zealand. The Ghost Tours also narrates scary stories about different people who were prisoned there. The prison gives the visitors a view of what a prison looks like and the hard work prisoner does. 

The prison today serves as a tourist attraction site for both local and international tourists. The tourist is more excited to learn from this facility due to its rich history of how prisons look like and gives them first-hand information on the lifestyle of prisoners. The tourist is also able to understand the kind of work the prisoners do as their serve their sentences.