Paiea Shane WAIHIRERE 13/01/2023

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Paiea Shane WAIHIRERE

Hearing: 13 January 2023

at Otago Corrections Facility via MS Teams

Members of the Board:

Judge C Blackie – Panel Convenor

Mr L Tawera

Dr G Coyle

In Attendance:   [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Paiea Shane Waihirere made his first appearance before the Parole Board on 13 January 2023.
  2. Mr Waihirere is serving a sentence of 12 years six months’ imprisonment following his conviction on a number of charges involving unlawful sexual connection with a female aged between 12 and 16 years, indecent assault, making objectionable material and sexual exploitation.  Mr Waihirere’s sentence commencement date was 5 July 2017, and his sentence date is 26 July 2029.
  3. Currently Mr Waihirere has a security classification of minimum and a RoC*RoI of .20329.
  4. According to the Judge’s sentencing notes, Mr Waihirere actually confessed to his offending, which was subsequently described as alarmingly depraved.  He was [withheld] and the offending occurred when she was aged between nine and 15 years.  There were up to three incidents a week.
  5. In addition, Mr Waihirere was found to have an extensive collection of sexually exploitative images, some of which included the victim.  The pre‑sentence report referred to Mr Waihirere as having a high sexual drive and deviant sexual interests.
  6. Within the prison, Mr Waihirere is well regarded.  The reports from his PCO indicate that he is working in the laundry, he is polite and courteous and creates no difficulties.
  7. The Board has available to it an up-to-date psychological report indicating that Mr Waihirere remains in the moderate to low-risk category and that he should undertake the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme for child sexual offenders.  He is scheduled to commence with Te Marama within the next few weeks.
  8. Mr Waihirere impressed the Board with his approach.  He accepts responsibility for his offending and expressed remorse.  To some extent his regret has had a bearing on [withheld].
  9. Clearly, as an untreated prisoner, Mr Waihirere remains an undue risk and therefore for today’s purposes parole is formally declined.  He should be seen again within 12 months, that is by the end of January 2024, by which stage it is anticipated:

(a) That he will have completed the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme.

(b) That he will have been able to put together a release plan.

(c) That enquiry would have been made as to the possibility of a suitable address – currently it is anticipated through [withheld].

Judge C Blackie

Panel Convenor