The New Zealand Parole Board ("the Board") was established on 30 June 2002, under the Parole Act 2002, and replaced 17 District Prison Boards and the National Parole Board.
It is an independent statutory body, meaning it is not part of the Government, the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, or Police.
The Board is made up of 20 Judges and 18 non-judicial members, and chaired by Judge David J. Carruthers.
Vacancies on the Board are advertised when new members are required. Members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General.
Under the Parole Act 2002, the Attorney-General must be satisfied members have:
The Board meets in panels of three - generally two non-judicial members and a Judge as convenor - usually once each month at each of the prisons throughout New Zealand.
Every three months an extended panel of at least five Board members meets in each region to consider a number of cases involving offenders serving life sentences, preventive detention or long-term determinate sentences of more than seven years.
The Board has three regional offices, Northern Region (Auckland), Central Region (Wellington) and Southern Region (Christchurch).
The Northern Region administers Board hearings at Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility, Auckland Central Remand Prison, Auckland Prison (Paremoremo), Mt Eden Prison, Northland Regional Corrections Facility, Spring Hill Corrections Facility, and Waikeria Prison.
The Central Region administers Board hearings at Arohata, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, New Plymouth, Rimutaka, Tongariro/Rangipo, Wanganui, and Wellington Prisons.
The Southern Region covers South Island, with Board hearings administered at Christchurch, Christchurch Women's, Invercargill, and Rolleston Prisons and at Otago Corrections Facility.