New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Krishan Ranui DICK-KARETAI

Hearing: 8 February 2024

at Otago Corrections Facility

Members of the Board:

Ms M Coleman – Panel Convenor

Dr G Coyle

Mr C King

Counsel: Mr A Dawson

In Attendance:  

[withheld] – Case Manager

[withheld] – Otago Daily Times

[withheld] – NZPB Communications Manager

Support People: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Krishan Ranui Dick-Karetai, who is 26, appeared before the Board today for the first consideration of parole on a six-year 11-month sentence for attempted murder.
2. Mr Dick-Karetai’s statutory release date is 14 September 2028.
3. This is Mr Dick-Karetai’s only criminal conviction.
4. Mr Dick-Karetai knew the victim and the victim’s partner. He had been in a relationship with her which she chose to end and to return to her earlier relationship with the victim.  Mr Dick-Karetai was unwilling to accept that and there were a range of family harm incidents.  After the first one, he was trespassed.
5. On the day in question, Mr Dick-Karetai sent the victim’s partner multiple messages and phoned her multiple times.  He then went to the address where she lived and tried to get her to come outside.  On advice from police, the victim locked the front door.  Mr Dick-Karetai took a rifle from the car and spoke to the victim through the door.  He then raised the rifle and shot the victim through the glass hitting him in the head.  The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and while he narrowly avoided death, his injuries are very significant and will be life-long.
6. At the outset of the hearing, the Board advised Mr Dick-Karetai that it had met with his victim.  The key points from our conversation with the victim was regarding the fundamental change that this offending has made to all of their lives.  Mr Tahuri’s injuries have necessitated significant rehabilitation, which is ongoing.  [withheld]
7. The family oppose release.  They consider that he does not deserve to get out of jail early.  They believe that he has already had a big discount of the sentence that was originally indicated when the effects as a result of this offending are severe and life-long.
8. [withheld]
9. As a result of that and of the offending itself the victim and his whānau do not want Mr Dick‑Karetai to be released to anywhere in the Canterbury or Otago regions.
10. Mr Dick-Karetai was represented at today’s hearing by Mr Dawson.  Mr Dawson indicated at the outset that his client was not seeking release on parole.  Mr Dick-Karetai has accepted that he needs to undertake the individual psychological treatment which has been recommended by the psychologist.  [withheld].
11. Mr Dick-Karetai, in speaking to the Board also accepted that it would not see him again for over a year.  In addition to undertaking that psychological treatment he is interested in undertaking reintegration activities such as release to work.  That will assist him with his reintegration back into the community.
12. One of the issues that Mr Dick-Karetai will need to work through with his treating psychologist is why this offending happened.  Mr Dick-Karetai said he believed that he was in a relationship with the victim, notwithstanding the number of text messages and his continuing to contact her despite being trespassed.  These are all referred to by the judge in the sentencing notes.
13. The victim’s partner [withheld] and the victim’s father believe that Mr Dick-Karetai was obsessed with her.  [withheld] said that he received a letter from Mr Dick-Karetai saying that his son was not the target but that the target was [withheld].  Mr Dick-Karetai denied sending that.  It may be that it was sent by someone else purporting to be him.  Nevertheless, the question of whether there was (as seems on the surface) an obsession is a matter that will be an important focus of the treatment work.
14. We agree that this is going to take some time.  We therefore schedule Mr Dick-Karetai to be seen again in 18 months’ time, that is in August 2025.
15. For that hearing, the Board asks for there to be an updated psychological report.  This is not required if the treatment is ongoing but if it has been completed then that report is required.
16. Mr Dick-Karetai will also need to start working on his release plan.  Given the significant injuries which are ongoing and the lead up to this offending, Mr Dick-Karetai would be wise to be starting to consider a release away from Otago as well as from Canterbury, notwithstanding his own connections to that region.
17. Until treatment is completed and there is a strong release plan, we consider his risk is undue and parole is declined.