New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Trent Owen Ngaruhe HAPUKU

Hearing: 5 December 2017

at [withheld]

Members of the Board:

• Ms T Williams Blyth
• Mr L Tawera
• Mr D Hauraki

Support Persons:
[withheld]
[withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Trent Hapuku (28) appears for further consideration of parole.  He is serving a nine year sentence for the manslaughter of a five month old baby, the son of his then partner.
2. Mr Hapuku has a RoC*RoI of .37363, a prison security classification of minimum and a statutory release date of 25 September 2020.  There is approximately two years ten months remaining on his sentence.
3. A psychological report dated 17 May 2016 was available at the last hearing.  Mr Hapuku’s risk of further interpersonal violence was assessed as moderate.  One-to-one work with a psychologist was recommended.  Comments made in the report include concerns that Mr Hapuku had yet to tell his family that he admitted the offending and his inconsistent reporting.  It was thought that feelings of shame may partially explain his position, particularly his concern re media interest.  Disclosure of his offending to whānau was seen as important to his safety plan.
4. The Board supported one-to-one work with a psychologist and a period of reintegration.
5. The parole assessment report confirms that Mr Hapuku completed the one-to-one work in October 2017.  He is said to have completed treatment and plans are progressing so that he can share his safety plan with his whānau.
6. Generally the file notes are positive, but deterioration in his demeanour has been noted.  Mr Hapuku is said to be sad and unmotivated.  He says that he is in a dark place.
7. Mr Hapuku was employed but this was terminated after a three week absence.  He has a sporadic work ethic and health issues.  Adding to his stress have been whānau issues.  [withheld].
8. He said that he was removed from the grounds maintenance team as he was going through a bad patch.  He tried to handle it himself. [withheld].
9. Mr Hapuku has had 15 to 20 sessions with a psychologist.  He says he got to sit down and really talk about his crime.  The safety plan was the biggest part that he enjoyed.  He identified that his main high risk situation is having no structure.  He says that in past he was all over the place but now he will work with whānau and the Probation.  With regard to the gang, he says that it will always be there as it is his whānau.  He believes that he can stand up to them now.
10. His plan, if he gets parole, is to attend a course at [withheld].  His whānau is supporting him in getting that organised.  If he remains in prison he is not sure about the way forward.  He will consider making an application to work outside the wire and release to work.  He says that he was working outside the wire for five years but never made an application for release to work as they do not have the jobs that he would like to do.  He is interested in forestry.
11. As Mr Hapuku stated, lack of structure is an issue for him.  In addition, as the previous Board indicated, a period of reintegration is important.
12. Mr Hapuku has yet to engage with reintegration, particularly working outside the wire and release to work.  For today his risk remains undue and parole is declined.  Mr Hapuku will be seen for further consideration of parole in August 2018 and no later than 31 August 2018.
13. In the meantime the Board understands that a whānau hui will be held tomorrow.  That will be an opportunity for Mr Hapuku to present his safety plan.  The Board also supports Mr Hapuku taking up any reintegration activities that are made available to him, including release to work.