New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Adrian Justin WAA

Hearing: 22^nd November 2023

at Christchurch Mens Prison via Teams

Members of the Board:

Mr N Trendle (Panel Convener)

Mr P Elenio

Mr C Roberts

Counsel:  Ms M Dempsey

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Adrian Justin Waa is making a further appearance before the Board on a sentence of eight years, four months’ imprisonment for serious sexual offending against an adult woman victim.  His statutory release date is 15 June 2028.
2. Mr Waa has an offending history that now extends over 20 years.  This is his sixth term of imprisonment, including one term of seven years, six months for violent offending.  He has a RoC*RoI of .56598.  A psychological assessment completed last year concluded that he was at average risk of sexually re-offending and at high risk of violently offending.
3. When he was last before the Board 12 months ago Mr Waa was attending the Drug Treatment Programme.  He graduated from that programme in April this year and over the last six months he has been in the Matapuna Unit completing the Special Treatment Unit Programme for Violent Offending.  He is to complete the core programme early next month.  Thereafter Mr Waa will be engaging in six further sessions with a psychologist addressing his sexual offending risks.
4. Mr Waa was represented by Ms Dempsey on instructions from Ms Creswell who filed written submissions in advance of the hearing acknowledging on the part of Mr Waa that he was not seeking parole as he was motivated to complete the programme he is currently attending and the other rehabilitation work thereafter.  She submitted however that he should have the opportunity to return to the Board in March next year.
5. Mr Waa’s PCO told us that his security classification had very recently been reduced to minimum.  He had progressed well throughout his time in the Matapuna Unit.  He was supported at the hearing by [withheld].
6. Despite his occasional challenging behaviour, Mr Waa appears to have made good progress on this sentence.  Once his work in the Matapuna Unit is complete he is to return to the Otago Corrections Facility.  It is important, having regard to his offending history and the intensity of the treatment he has completed, that there is a period of reintegration.
7. Parole today is declined.  We will schedule Mr Waa to return to the Board in eight months, by 31 July 2024.  We support his progress on reintegration activities including Release to Work in due course.  When he returns to the Board we would be assisted by a psychological addendum as to his progress in treatment in reducing his risk and with recommendations as to any outstanding treatment or reintegration needs.