Killer's comments spark debate 

There are calls for prisons to toughen up after claims by a child killer that her jail time was not much punishment.

Rachaelle Namana, 33, was convicted of manslaughter in one of New Zealand's most horrific child abuse cases.

She killed 23-month-old Hinewaoriki "Lillybing" Karaitiana-Matiaha and now a Sunday Newspaper has reported that Namana says she smoked P and other drugs and had a cellphone to access pornography while in jail.

Lillybing's death shocked the country. Namana admitted shaking the toddler so violently that her brain swelled. She then failed to get medical help for her.

The 33-year-old was sentenced to six year's jail in 2001.

Namana has completed her probation and is living in Gisborne, where she told the Sunday Star-Times she still doesn't know why she did what she did. She said jail was fine and not as hard as people make out.

Namana told the newspaper that she smoked P and did other drugs while in jail, used a cellphone to download pornography, says she wasn't rehabilitated, has no job, has formed strong friendships with high profile criminals and parties most nights with ex-inmates. She said her five children are in CYF care and she doesn't want them back.

The Corrections Association, which represents most prison officers, says there is nothing surprising in Namana's tale of easy access to drugs and cellphones.

Association spokesman Beven Hanlon says when people go to jail they have full contact visits.

"That means you're just sitting in a room where someone else comes in and visits you... It's not uncommon to have children as young as babies with nappies being caught with drugs on them because the parents didn't want to get caught with it," Hanlon says.
          
In its defence the Corrections Department says there has been a significant increase in the amount of contraband it has been seizing and that rehabilitation programmes are available, but it is up to the prisoner to be willing to change.

For her part Namana says she is not confident of staying out of jail.

The National Party's law and order spokesman Simon Power says Namana's case leaves the government with little choice but to begin a select committee inquiry into the Corrections Department.

Power says the government can't turn a blind eye to allegations like those tabled by Namana.