The mother of Nia Glassie has been released from prison but is under strict conditions including needing official approval before entering into a relationship.
Lisa Kuka, who was sentenced in 2009 to nine years in prison for manslaughter for failing to protect and provide the necessaries of life for Nia, was yesterday released from jail.
The 3-year-old Nia was subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of Wiremu and Michael Curtis who were sentenced to life imprisonment for the little girl's murder. Nia died of head injuries in Starship hospital on August 3, 2007.
Nia Glassie died in 2007 from head injuries caused by horrific abuse.
The Department of Corrections would not say where Kuka has been released to nor what her living arrangements were. They also cited privacy issues when asked if she would be entering into any kind of employment.
Her Parole Board notes revealed a list of conditions she must meet that include an 11pm to 5am curfew and having to notify her probation officer "before entering into an intimate relationship".
She also requires approval before contacting any of her five surviving children or before having any child under the age of 16 stay with her overnight.
The board said she was also not to communicate or associate with Michael or Wiremu Curtis, Michael Pearson and Oriwa Kemp without written consent from her probation officer.
Child safety advocate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said the list was "quite prohibitive" and it would be difficult for the 41-year-old to re-integrate into society but she had served her time in prison and deserved her chance.
"The community will be wary so she needs to work hard at it. It's not a matter of releasing someone and saying 'there you go, keep your nose clean'. It's far more than that."
Ms Raukawa-Tait, who gave evidence at the coronial hearing into Nia's death, said Kuka would need the right kind of support.
"But it will be difficult to get a job to support herself, often employers will be prepared to offer a job but co-workers will object.
"Her whanau weren't there before and there's no certainty they will want to be there this time around as much as we would like them to be come hell or high water."
Kuka had been considered for parole six times since 2011. The 41-year-old was paroled in February having completed programmes including alcohol and drugs initiatives and a psychologist assessed her as "low risk", but this was revoked over problems where she was staying.