KEY POINTS:
A man who raped a tourist at an Auckland backpackers' lodge has been paroled straight back to similar budget accommodation in the city - and the owner and female guests were not even warned of his record.
Lokeni Hui was sentenced to 8 years' jail after the May
2001 attack when he barged into the woman's room and violated her as she returned from her morning shower at the Central City Backpackers.
He was released this month to stay at the Budget Accommodation lodge in Albert St - accommodation "approved" by the Community Probation Service despite Weekend Herald inquiries finding it did not visit or tell management of Hui's past.
Hui had been out of prison for two months when he raped the South African woman at the Lorne St backpackers after his first night there.
The 47-year-old widow, staying in the room opposite his, had been in the country just over a week.
Sentencing Hui, the judge noted his risk of reoffending was high and said the woman was entitled to expect she would not be subjected to this kind of attack in a hostel.
Hui had to be paroled, having reached his "final release date" - two-thirds of the sentence.
An explicit condition set by the Parole Board was that Hui "reside at an address approved by the Probation Officer".
It is understood that his placement at the lodge immediately raised concerns with frontline police.
Budget Accommodation describes itself as "clean and secure... A hop skip and a jump to the Viaduct".
Manager Judi Busch said she was disappointed probation officers had not told staff of Hui's record as a sign of respect for the female residents, given that the set-up and shared facilities were so similar to a backpackers.
Hui moved out of the lodge last week, saying it was "too quiet".
Ms Busch said Hui was now in more suitable accommodation - a boarding house that she also managed.
She had spoken to him and been called by Department of Corrections staff after Weekend Herald inquiries and had decided he could stay if there was no objection from the mainly male residents.
A Corrections statement said staff were working to find Hui more appropriate accommodation.
He has an extensive criminal history in his native Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, including wounding with a machete.
