Convicted sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson appears to be admitting wrongdoing, a Parole Board report indicates.
Wilson was denied parole at a hearing in Wanganui on July 2 for a second time following his recall to jail in April 2013.
But the board decision details released yesterday said Wilson had seen a psychologist for the first time since imprisonment 18 years ago and had acknowledged that he "needs to get into the harder issues" around his behaviour.
Wilson wants to return to accommodation in the grounds of Whanganui prison.
The board was developing a "reintegration plan" with Wilson, and as well as talking to a psychologist, he has done some work with ACC.
Until now, Wilson has steadfastly refused to admit his crimes or get professional help.
His progress was described as "incremental" but was seen as "genuine engagement and opened the door to further work with the psychologist."
The decision said while the "focus had largely been directed to Mr Wilson's issues, there has been the development of an initial safety plan.
"Mr Wilson acknowledged that a deeper level of engagement will be required and increased disclosure on his part. He acknowledged that he needs to get into the harder issues with the psychologist" said panel convener Neville Trendle.
Wilson had also agreed "to some extent that he was wronged people in the past and it is necessary for him to put things right."
"He is learning how to do things differently in the future."
However, the board said Wilson could not be paroled until the reintegration plan had been completed and further work done with the psychologist.
His next parole hearing is in October.
Wilson's sentence finishes on December 1, 2015.