February 14, 2013
Parole board finds Tame Iti safe for community
Tame Iti is getting ready to leave his temporary home in Te Ao Marama Māori unit at Waikeria prison.
He has been locked up since May when the High Court sentenced him to 30 months in jail for weapons offences arising from what the judge said were paramilitary training courses in Te Urewera in 2007.
At his first parole hearing yesterday, the board said it was satisfied Iti no longer poses an undue risk to the safety of the community and he will be released on February 27, with special conditions.
His son Wairere Iti says the probation report was positive, as were comments from prison management.
“The manager of Te Ao Marama, he got up to speak. The only he could say was the positive things about his positive impact on the inmates, particularly on the younger ones. As well as his knowledge of tikanga and kawa had the upmost respect from all of the inmates and the staff”.
Wairere Iti says it was an extraordinary hearing, with the parole board seemingly listening to the Tuhoe activist as an equal.
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