A Whangarei man has issued an open invitation to Prime Minister John Key to visit his home which looks directly at a portable cabin housing a released prisoner assessed at high risk of violent re-offending.
Arthur Alexander Gray, 51, was released from jail last week and has moved into a cabin, with no running water or electricity on family land in Lake Ora Rd, near Kamo.
Gray served a full nine-year sentence for attempting to murder (by stabbing) a backpacker in Nelson in 2003. He had attacked the backpacker 11 days after being released on parole, having served time for aggravated robbery. It has been revealed in Parliament that Gray also killed a fellow inmate while in prison. He was found not guilty of murder on grounds of self defence.
Mr Key is in Northland today and tomorrow as part of his regular regional visits around the country.
Neighbours in the area told the Northern Advocate they are terrified, with some fitting more locks and others putting cardboard up in windows to stop Mr Gray looking into their homes.
One resident, who says his lounge looks out directly into the cabin, wants the country's leader to sit in his lounge and consider the view.
"I want Mr Key to come and look where his government has put this guy. I want him to come and stand where I live and have a look and tell me, with everything known about this case, and tell me I have nothing to worry about," he said.
"In all fairness if this guy has a mental sickness he needs to be somewhere that he can get help. He doesn't need to be dumped in a paddock by himself.
"What care is he really getting?"
Others commenting on the Northern Advocate's Facebook page have also questioned the placement of Mr Gray.
Lynley Fricker suggested it was appropriate to build transition premises for high risk ex-prisoners and for them to have someone with them when out in public.
"That way if anything happens the person assigned to them is responsible for anything that prisoner does. Harsh? Yes it is but I hate to think what Arthur Gray will get up to being out there alone.
"I personally would hate to be living alone on Lake Ora Road and yes, the residents there have valid reasons to be worried."
Richie Tuhaia Mahanga said: "I know this guy has killed an inmate years ago, this is one dangerous dude. But everyone deserves a second chance."