A roof-top protest from youths locked up in a youth justice facility is over.

The last remaining youth came down from the roof shortly before noon, and after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had earlier pulled no punches, saying authorities will not cave to their demands.

But the protest didn’t end before damage was done to a section of the unit’s roof.

The youths climbed atop a youth justice facility in South Auckland last night and an NZME photographer at the site heard them demanding fast food, cigarettes and a getaway car.

The Korowai Manaaki in Wiri said six of the 13 youths were coaxed down overnight, and five remained on the roof at 8.30am.

As of 8.46am, four remained on the roof.

The group were demanding five large Big Mac combos from McDonald’s, cigarettes and a getaway car. 

Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast authorities were doing a good job trying to get them down. 

“No, they’re not coming down for KFC,” Luxon said, referencing bargaining chips offered to youths at the same facility in July last year and at the Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo youth justice facility near Christchurch. 

“These are some of our most serious and hardcore young offenders.” 

An NZME photographer on the scene said the youths were tearing off pieces of the roof, removing insulation and kicking the building. 

“Another person was walking around the rooftop with some playing cards, while others shouted across to each other, making jokes and laughing.” 

The Herald saw the youths yelling out from atop the roof this morning, about 12 hours after the incident began.

The youths were spread out across two separate areas, yelling gang slang and making gang-like hand gesture signs at the officers below.

“Is this going on the news? Tell them we are protesting,” one youth said.

Authorities were throwing water bottles on to the roof for the youths.

In a statement, Oranga Tamariki Acting DCE Youth Justice Services and Residential Care Iain Chapman, said Oranga Tamariki confirmed they were responding to an incident at Korowai Manaaki, one of their Auckland youth justice facilities.

“We notified Police at 6.45pm this evening, that 13 youths had gained access to a roof within the facility.

“One young person has since come down and we are working with Police to resolve this matter and can confirm there are no concerns for public safety.”

Similar incidents occurred at the same facility last year when groups of young people climbed up on the roof of a building at the 40-bed facility.

Six young people endured a wet and cold night on the roof on July 1 after forcing their way out of a unit.

Temperatures dropped to about 11C during the course of the July night and there was heavy rain in the area.

However, the 30-hour standoff was ended when OT staff agreed to get them burgers and fried chicken.

A month later, three young people triggered a security incident when they climbed up on a roof.

The trio were coaxed down several hours later.

In June last year, another group of youths staged a rooftop standoff at the Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo youth justice facility near Christchurch.

During the incident, a staff member received a broken wrist and four young people spent the night in the facility’s roof cavity.

A fifth youth came down earlier in the evening.

But the remaining four were brought down by ladder 24 hours after the incident began, and put in police custody.