New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Kino Hoki MATETE

Hearing: 5 May 2017 At [Withheld]

Members of the Board:

• Hon. M A Frater (Panel Convenor)
• Judge A Kiernan
• Assoc. Prof. P Brinded
• Ms T Williams-Blyth

In attendance:

• [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Kino Hoki Matete, aged 36, is serving a sentence of preventive detention with a minimum non-parole period of six years, imposed on 24 February 2006 and confirmed on appeal.

2. When she appeared before the Board on 28 November 2015 Ms Matete was making a concerted effort to achieve improvement.

3. In the 18 months since then, although there have been occasional fluctuations in her behaviour, the overall trajectory has been forward.

4. In November last year Ms Matete was regressed to the high security unit following four incidents which led to proven misconducts.  The most significant incident involved a fight with another prisoner over a vacuum cleaner.  There were also two misconducts for verbally abusing or intimidating staff.

5. While she was in the high security area Ms Matete ran a boot camp for other prisoners and did very well.  Reports say that she demonstrated her leadership ability, and increased patience and tolerance with those below her fitness level.  During this time Ms Matete worked with the [Withheld]  clinician, [Withheld]  and was also involved in an intensive anger management programme delivered in group sessions.  She moved from that to participate in the Behaviour Skills Programme facilitated by a departmental psychologist.  This involved 18 group sessions, of one and a half hours duration, between October 2016 and March 2017.  At the same time Ms Matete worked with the chaplains twice a week to address spiritual issues.

6. Significantly, in April this year Ms Matete joined the [Withheld]  Programme, which she has continued to attend each morning, four days a week.  She says it is hard work, but she is committed to doing it.

7. Although she was able to start this programme on the high side, she has recently moved to the low security area where she is housed in the training centre.  This has required a change in her routine and giving up the boot camp she was running.  She has a very structured daily programme involving [Withheld], employment in the kitchen, and her own daily training sessions in the gym.

8. It was encouraging to see the changes in Ms Matete’s overall attitude.  She has demonstrated that she can walk away from disputes, although she readily acknowledged that, sometimes, her mouth runs away with her.  But she is working on that.  She said she no longer thinks it important to respond to every challenge to her.  She now has goals.  She thinks about the consequences of her actions, and, usually, her words.

9. She did not seek release today.  She knows that with her history she needs to be carefully tested over time and in a variety of situations before there is any prospect of release.  In particular, sustained participation inreintegrative activities is essential.

10. Her support is mainly from [Withheld] and [Withheld] who lives in [Withheld]  However Ms Matete’s goal is to be released with employment.  And we agree that this is very important for her.

11. Obviously that is some way off.  But Ms Matete is moving in the right direction.

12. Parole is declined today.

13. Ms Matete’s next hearing will be in April or May 2018, on a date to be advised by the Parole Board administration, but by the end of May, at the latest.

14. An updated psychological assessment report is required for that hearing reporting on the progress that Ms Matete has made in  prison, the effect that that has had on her risk the strength of her release plan, and making recommendations for further interventions in custody or the community.

Hon. M A Frater
Panel Convenor