Killer goes shopping before island excursion

Kurariki. Photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand's youngest convicted killer was given a get-out-of-jail card to go grocery shopping before joining a course with troubled teenagers where he learned traditional hand-to-hand combat.

Bailey Junior Kurariki is serving seven years' jail for the manslaughter of pizza delivery man Michael Choy. His fourth parole hearing is scheduled for 10 days' time.

In preparation for Kurariki's eventual release in September, the Corrections Department sent the 18-year-old from Hawke's Bay Prison's Maori focus unit to attend a Maori-run education wananga on Lake Rotorua's Mokoia Island.

En route to the course, Corrections allowed Kurariki to go grocery shopping. It is understood he withdrew $100 from his prison account to buy, among other things, gum and Coca-Cola.

However, once Corrections was made aware high-school students were taking part in the wananga, Kurariki was withdrawn from the course and returned to Hawke's Bay.

Corrections has since conceded Kurariki should not have attended the wananga and is reviewing how he ended up there.

However, the fact he spent three days on Mokoia Island has angered Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, who told the Herald on Sunday it was an "absolute outrage" Kurariki was allowed the freedom to do the sorts of activities her son no longer could.

"Is this what they call punishment in this country? He [Kurariki] should be locked away to serve his time," she said.

"Most kids never get to experience the sort of thing Kurariki has on Mokoia Island. This sort of thing actually shows crime does pay."

The wananga is run by respected Te Arawa elder Mita Mohi, who has trained more than 10,000 people in traditional Maori hand-to-hand combat.

Mohi specialises in mau raku, the martial art that teaches the use of the taiaha and other Maori weapons. Only males are allowed to attend the six-day wananga, which aims to strengthen cultural identity and provide positive role models.

Participants bathe in natural hot springs, and most evenings are taken up by katakata (joke) sessions and motivational talks. Those who attend are generally troubled young people recommended by schools, community constables and the Department of Corrections.

Corrections central general manager Leanne Field confirmed the course did include traditional Maori training in the use of the taiaha or Maori spear.

However, she said Kurariki was well supervised at all times and that his presence on the island was not a threat to public safety.

"The department, at the direction of the New Zealand Parole Board, is working towards the release of this prisoner in September this year and have an obligation to prepare him for his return to the community," Field said. "This programme is not a summer camp."

Kurariki's mother Lorraine West told the Herald on Sunday her son had already secured a job when he leaves prison, working with his father at a South Auckland timber factory.

She said her son regretted his role in the death of Choy and believed he had been used by the other, older offenders.

"They were just being stupid kids," West said. "It was never the plan to kill him.

"You know it's such a shame they hit him on the head... and not on the back or something."

Since her eldest son Raymond died of cancer 18 months ago, Kurariki had "grown up more".

She did not want to build up her hopes that her son would be released within a fortnight, but had made provisions just in case he was.

"I think they are using my son as an example, but he still shouldn't have to do the whole seven years."

However, Croskery said as far as she was concerned there should be no early release for Kurariki. She had received a life-long sentence and Kurariki should serve his time.

- additional reporting Carolyne Meng-Yee