UPDATED 3.33pm: The Ministry of Social Development is investigating an incident in which seven boys got onto the roof of a youth prison in south Auckland.

Just before midnight last night, the boys overpowered three night staff at the Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence in Manurewa and took their keys off them.

Police, the Fire Service, the manager of the residence and other day staff were called - the police helicopter was also there.

Staff on site managed to talk the boys down.

They descended using the fire brigade ladder.

The incident was resolved and emergency services left around 1.30 this morning.

Child, Youth and Family spokesman Chris Polaschek says staff were shaken but were unhurt.

He says no young people were hurt and there was minimal damage.

But New Zealand First says the Minister of Social Development has some explaining to do following the security breach.

The party's Youth Affairs spokesman Darroch Ball said they'd already asked Anne Tolley to review the facility after they were made aware of previous security breaches:

"The minister really has some questions to answer in terms of what has been done completed and any changes that were made."

He said the young criminals are actually running the place - over the past year there have been around 680-700 security incidents.

Mr Ball said they have concerns with these types of prisons in general and are calling for an overhaul of the entire system.

"Youth who are on remand there mixing with those who are in residence there. It's just a breeding ground for criminals and it just adds to the conveyor belt of youth offenders moving into adulthood and becoming our prisoners."

Mr Ball said previous Children's Commission reports have also raised concerns, and it was brought up in the recent review of Child Youth and Family.