Inside the Wire

True Stories from a New Zealand prison officer

Rhonda Hapi-Smith

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Paperback

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English

HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand)
04 June 2025

Autobiography: general; Memoirs; True crime; Prisons; Rehabilitation of offenders

Gripping true-life stories from a career spent inside New Zealand prisons.

Rhonda Hāpi-Smith has walked among some of New Zealand's most dangerous criminals. As a female prison officer and member of the Riot Squad, she met and worked with thieves, addicts, gangsters, murderers and sex offenders for nearly twenty years in men's prisons around the country.

Operating within an unspoken set of codes, Rhonda built a reputation for herself as fair but firm. She dealt with everything from mass riots and inter-gang hits to attempted escapes, suicides and segregated 'maxi' detainees.

But alongside the twisted and the downright terrifying, Rhonda shares stories of unlikely friendships, ingenious prison innovations, and moments of hilarity with some of the best people she's ever known. When you walk inside the wire, you leave the ordinary world behind. Put your game face on and here we go!

By: Rhonda Hapi-Smith
Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand)
Country of Publication: New Zealand
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 155mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 340g
ISBN: 9781775542704
ISBN 10: 177554270X
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 04 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Rhonda Hapi-Smith followed her father and siblings into the prison service at the age of 30 and worked for 20 years as a prison officer, Control and Restraint Instructor, and member of the Riot Squad at Hawkes Bay Regional (Mangaroa) Prison. In her later career she transferred to Rimutaka Prison and worked among some of New Zealand's most dangerous inmates before leaving Corrections in 2017. Many times as she walked the prison floors, she was writing this book in her head.