New Zealand Parole Board -

There is an order prohibiting publication of the name, address and occupation or identifying particulars of the offender and/or victim.

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Paiea Shane WAIHIRERE

Hearing: 17 January 2024

at Rolleston Prison via MS Teams

Members of the Board:

Ms M Coleman – Panel Convenor

Ms W Taumaunu

Mr P Elenio

In Attendance:  [withheld] - Case Manager

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Paiea Shane Waihirere, who is 57, appeared before the Board today for the further consideration of parole on a 12-year six-month sentence for unlawful sexual connection of a girl aged 12 and 16, indecent assault of a girl aged under 12 and when she was between 12 and 16, and knowingly making objectional publications of his abuse of her.  Mr Waihirere was also found in possession of a further 534 images.
2. Mr Waihirere’s statutory release date is 26 July 2029.
3. The victim of this offending was [withheld]. She was aged between nine and 15 when the offending occurred. [withheld].
4. At sentencing, Mr Waihirere described his offending as impulsive. The Judge disagreed, saying it was premeditative, calculated and repeated.
5. Mr Waihirere was last before the Board in January 2023. That was for the first consideration of parole. It noted that he was identified to undertake the Medium Intensity Child Sex Offender Programme, which he was due to start shortly after the hearing. It scheduled him to be seen again today, anticipating he would have completed it and developed a release plan.
6. In fact, the course did not start as anticipated, and Mr Waihirere has only just now started treatment. The core treatment phase finishes at the end of June 2024. That is followed by a reflection stage and the writing of reports.
7. At the outset of today's hearing the Board advised Mr Waihirere that we had met with the victim of this offending. He was advised that she was opposed to his early release. As a normal life had been ripped from her as a consequence of the abuse she suffered, Mr Waihirere should not be permitted to resume his until the end of his sentence.
8. Mr Waihirere’s victim referred to the manipulation and control that he exerted. [withheld]. The Board urged Mr Waihirere today to discuss his violent control of his victim so that any additional treatment required for violence can be dealt with as he is going through the Medium Intensity Programme.
9. The victim was very clear that she does not want to encounter Mr Waihirere once he is released from prison, either in the area she lives or when she visits her family. She wants Mr Waihirere to be excluded from both the Canterbury and Otago regions and for that exclusion zone to be monitored electronically.
10. When Mr Waihirere was advised of the exclusion zone sought by his victim, he said that he wanted to reconnect with his family because family meant everything to him. It was explained to him that her family very important to her as well and that his being able to go to those areas would effectively prevent her from having face-to-face contact with them. He was encouraged to plan his release elsewhere. The Board understands [withheld] that Mr Waihirere has other family in [withheld] who may be able to provide support to him on release.
11. Parole today is declined. Mr Waihirere needs to complete his treatment, develop a safety plan and develop a strong release proposal. As this will take some time, the Board is going to see him again in January 2025.
12. The Board notes that Mr Waihirere scored high on the sexual deviancy scale. For this reason and due to the serious and prolonged nature of the offending [withheld], the Board asks for an updated psychological report for that hearing. The report should identify treatment gains, outstanding treatment needs and comment with recommendations on the robustness of his release plan.