When breaking the news of horrific treatment of prisoners at Auckland Women's Prison, Guyon Espiner came face to face with a deeper story, of personal and cultural trauma.

In 2020, RNZ investigative reporter Guyon Espiner began exploring the conditions within New Zealand prisons. He was shocked by what he uncovered.

After breaking the news of startling abuses, including excessive use of pepper spray and isolation at Auckland Women's Prison, Guyon followed the review that took place over the ensuing months. The outcome of that review was both surprising and deeply emotional for this seasoned reporter.

In this interview with media chaplain Rev. Frank Ritchie, Guyon opens up on his personal journey into his greater understanding of te ao Māori, and how that shaped his telling of this particular story.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details