Table tennis and quiz champion: Convicted saboteur Graham Philip says he’s enjoying himself in prison

The man who tried to bring down New Zealand’s national grids says he’s enjoying himself in prison and is a Corrections success story who spends his days writing short stories, playing table tennis and drawing pictures of flowers.

Taupi man Graham Philip, 62, was convicted of an unprecedented seven sabotage charges two months ago after attacking Transpower’s infrastructure in November 2021 to draw attention to his anti-vaccination views.

The attack started a fire and caused $1.25 million in damage. All other details, including exactly what he attacked, are permanently suppressed. He was the first New Zealander ever to be prosecuted for sabotage since the law was introduced shortly after World War II.

Philip is being held at Waikeria Prison near Kihikihi, where he has been held mainly since his arrest in December 2021.

Today, he appeared before the parole board via video conference for the first time since his incarceration.

Phillips’ attorney, Bill Nabney, told the board’s convening judge, Louis Bidois, that he did not apply for parole today for his client because Philip was required to undergo a psychological evaluation to help the board make its decision.

This was seemingly a shock to Philip, who told Bidois he was not mentally unwell and understood he would apply for parole today. He later admitted that the board did not have enough information to consider the parole application immediately.

The board heard from Philips’ prison officer liaison, who said she spends time with Philip every few days.

He told the board that he has not seen any violent behavior from him, but he often expresses concern about the way the prison is run and it can be very challenging to persuade him otherwise.

Later, Philip himself was called to address the board, where he picked up a behavior report that said he often threatened guards with complaints.

I’ve certainly filed complaints – I have a big box of complaints here, he said, holding up the files to the camera. I understand that if you have a complaint, you file a complaint. Don’t go and hit the guard.

As for how she keeps herself busy: I’ve written novels and short stories. I make pictures, small pictures of flowers.

I wrote 100 letters to MPs, and I got many answers back, he said, holding the answers of two MPs. Philip also regularly writes letters to local news outlets including the Rotorua Daily Post and the NZ Herald.

As for how he felt about coping in prison, Philip said he struggled at first. When the details of his crime were concealed, he says, other inmates began to suspect him of being a pedophile.

But he claims he has since bounced back from his first few months and is now enjoying himself.

When I came to prison I was angry and I had problems, and now I’m not angry, I’m happy. As far as I can, I am having a good time. I am the table tennis champion, we won the quiz. I consider myself a great success story for Corrections. Well done repairs.

Write to the minister, be damned satisfied, replied Judge Bidois.

In New Zealand, the government can consider release after an offender has served a third of their total sentence.

Philip spent almost a year in prison awaiting trial. He eventually pleaded guilty, and his pretrial detention was reduced from his final sentence of three years and one month.

In practice, this means that Philip has served a third of his sentence, even though he was only sentenced in December.

The board ordered him to undergo a psychological evaluation and corrected the proposed publication address. A second hearing will be held in six months, when the parole application can be considered.