KEY POINTS:
Mass murderer Raymond Wahia Ratima will not be given the chance to apply to be freed from prison for another three years, the Parole Board has ruled.
Ratima was denied parole at his last hearing in June, after the board noted he was using drugs.
The postponement order issued today gives families of his victims relief from the annual round of parole hearings.
Ratima was jailed for life in 1992 after being found guilty of killing seven people, including three of his own children, on a murderous rampage in Masterton.
The Parole Board imposes postponement orders if it believes there will not be a significant change in the offender's circumstances which will make him or her suitable for release at the next scheduled hearing date.
"It is clear that there is no chance of such significant change," the board said of Ratima today.
If there is a significant change in Ratima's circumstances, he can request the Parole Board consider his application for release before the three years is up.
The board said a "particularly striking and courageous" member of Ratima's family had asked to meet him in an informal setting so she could explain the impact of his crimes and take back any expressions of remorse from him.
"Unfortunately nothing has happened", the board said, even though it "strongly recommended" that the meeting take place.
The seven-member panel said the fact the meeting had not gone ahead was not a factor in its decision to impose the postponement order.
- NZPA
