Arthur William Taylor (born 1956) is a high-profile former prison inmate who served time in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, Auckland, New Zealand. In 2016 he had spent 38 years in prison and had a total of 152 convictions. As a prison inmate, he achieved a public profile as a "prison lawyer" due to initiating court action on behalf of himself and prisoners' rights. In 2017, he initiated successful legal action on behalf of former prisoner David Tamihere. On 24 January 2019, Taylor's appearance before a parole board resulted in parole being granted, and he was released on 11 February 2019. He had said not long before release that he wanted to gain a law degree and continue his social work.
Background & criminal history
Taylor's parents were farmers in the Hokianga district before moving to Masterton where they ran a small business. Taylor says they were a loving family but that he found schoolwork boring and so often used to skip class. He had never appeared in court but, at age 11 missing school was enough to get him sent to Epuni Boys home for "NUPC" - not being under proper control. In a letter to the Race relations Commission in 2017, he said being sent to Epuni was as much a surprise to his parents as it was to him.
A psychological report written shortly after he arrived at Epuni said: "He appears as basically warm-hearted, good-natured, co-operative and easy going, with a tendency to be impulsive at times. He is also shown to be sentimental, emotional and artistic with a liking for people". Altogether, Taylor was sent to Epuni three times and spent a total of 18 months in the institution. He committed burglaries and car conversion in the course of running away from Epuni, although his first conviction was for forging entries in his savings bank deposit book at the age of 16. While in Epuni he also formed associations with youngsters who went on to become serious criminals, and said "I was educated in the ways of crime". In 2015, while still in prison, Taylor received financial compensation and a letter of apology from the Ministry of Social Development for his incarceration and treatment at Epuni.
By 2016 Taylor had a total of 152 convictions and had spent 38 years in prison. His convictions are for fraud, burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, firearms offences, drugs offences and escaping from custody.
Behaviour in prison
Escapes
Taylor says he has escaped from prison twelve times, including twice in Australia. In 1998, he and three others, including murderer Graeme Burton, escaped from Auckland Prison by scaling the walls at Paremoremo, snipping through the wire at the top and getting away in a waiting Toyota Hiace. They spent a few days in a millionaire's bach in the Coromandel. Taylor was caught after a massive police operation and returned to prison. He was released at the end of his sentence in 2001.
Taylor was sent back to prison in December 2004 after being charged with drug and firearms offences and possessing explosives. He escaped again in 2005 when he was being taken to a family group conference at Child Youth and Family (CYFs) offices in Wellington to discuss the custody of his child. He was assisted by Manu Royal who pointed an air pistol at the two prison officers escorting him and told them to unlock Taylor's handcuffs. Taylor was recaptured after he fell through the ceiling in a downtown Wellington building and landed on top of a startled woman in a toilet cubicle.
Smuggled out his sperm
Taylor says that, with the help of a Corrections officer, he smuggled his sperm out of prison and that it was used to impregnate his wife, Carolyn Taylor, who later gave birth. A Corrections spokesperson said "we do not believe he is the biological father of a child born in June 2007". However, a Child, Youth and Family spokeswoman told the NZ Herald that Taylor was recognised by the agency as the father, after he was named on the birth certificate by his wife. Taylor also received regular visits from the child in prison.
Appearances at parole board
In March 2017, Taylor was serving a sentence of 17 years and 6 months when he made his 18th appearance before a parole board. The sentence was for serious violent and drug-related offending. Parole was denied, the board deeming him too dangerous for early release. His next appearance before the board was scheduled for March 2018. On 1 March 2018, the outcome of a parole board hearing was announced; the board denied Taylor parole on the grounds that he was likely to reoffend. A parole board hearing was scheduled in 2019.
