Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man who has twice been ruled insane after committing two separate killings can now be named.

RNZ can reveal the man is Leslie Raymond Parr, who killed two people more than two decades apart – beheading his partner Fiona Maulolo in 1997, and then in 2024 fatally stabbing his mother Heather Condon.

The revelations of a second killing prompted the Chief Victims Advisor to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities.

A High Court judge said the offending occurred “against a backdrop of apparent significant failures in the mental health system”.

Parr’s family believes the mental health system let both him, and his mother, down.

RNZ earlier revealed the case, which had been shrouded in secrecy. However, an appeal against name suppression meant it was not possible to publish details about either killing. That suppression lapsed on Monday after the Supreme Court did not grant leave to appeal.

An appeal was heard in the Court of Appeal in August before president Justice French, Justice Campbell and Justice Collins.

In a decision released last year, the court dismissed Parr’s appeal. The court said the fact Parr had again killed someone closely connected to him whilst suffering from mental illness was a matter of “overwhelming public interest”.

It can now be reported that Parr killed his partner Maulolo in April 1997. Maulolo was decapitated with her head found in a plastic bag in a clothes dryer. Forensic evidence revealed Parr had driven a chisel multiple times into her heart before decapitating her.

Parr, who had a history of schizophrenia, told police he killed her after she told him to.

“She said she was Satan and I had to kill her,” he said.

A year before the killing he was made a compulsory patient for six months after attacking a policeman. However, nine days later he was discharged by psychiatrist Linda Astor without even meeting him. Astor later fled the country and was unmasked as a bogus psychiatrist.

A jury found Parr not guilty by reason of insanity. A judge ordered he be detained in a special secure unit and not freed without the health minister’s authority.

A coroner later said Parr’s treatment had been seriously deficient.

To be released into the community after being designated a special patient, requires the sign off of the Minister of Health, the Attorney General and the Director of Mental Health. Parr was released back in the community in 2012. In 2021, his status was changed to being a patient under the Mental Health Act.

At the time of his second killing, he was subject to a Compulsory Treatment Order.

Health NZ earlier confirmed an external review of the care Parr received leading up to the offending was under way.

‘The second killing’

In the weeks leading up to his mother’s death, Parr’s mental health was “rapidly declining,” Justice Karen Grau said.

In May 2024, following an altercation between Parr and a relative he was admitted to a mental health facility.

He was released after around a week on 30 May. Following his release, he became preoccupied with the loss of his car keys and was having difficulties with relationship he was in. He was also using cannabis.

Court documents reveal that about 6pm on 4 June last year, Parr and his mother were at a property in Whanganui.

An incident occurred between the pair and Parr, armed with a knife, stabbed his mother in the chest.

He then left the address, driving his car to another address to see an associate, arriving about 6.20pm.

He then walked into the address and sat on the doorstep.

Parr asked his associate: “Cuz do you know where to get a gun?”

He said he needed a gun because the Mongrel Mob were after him. He then made a call to his sister, and a plan was made to go to Raetihi.

Parr and his associate left the property in Parr’s car. As they travelled past Whanganui Girls College, Parr told his associate: “Cuz I’ve killed mum”.

The associate stopped the car on the side of the road and asked Parr why.

“Mum’s possessed, Mum’s possessed. I had to do it. She killed your parents…” he replied.

The associate then exited the car and walked away.

Parr then got into the driver’s seat and drove off.

The associate went to a nearby petrol station to get a $20 top up and called a friend. The two men then went to the Whanganui Police Station and reported what Parr had told them.

Police went to Condon’s property where they found her dead in the garden behind the porch.

She had a white handled knife sticking out of the right side of her chest through her clothing.

Parr was arrested by police shortly before 2am on June 5. When he was advised he was under arrest for murder he said “yes, I know”.

‘Mentally impaired’

Justice Karen Grau ruled that Parr was legally insane at the time he caused his mother’s death in April last year.

In her judgment, Justice Grau addressed Parr’s family.

“Understandably there is shock, disbelief, and grief for Heather who was taken too soon, a fit, yet elderly woman deeply involved in her whanau and in her community.

“The whanau understands that insanity has played a role, but again, understandably, the feeling remains that this was a cruel and heartless act. The whanau feels that the mental health system has failed Mr Parr and has failed his mother.”

Justice Grau said the criminal charge “could not unpick what has happened in the system and what could and should have done, but it is hoped that answers will come, both for the whanau and for the wider community”.

Parr was described as someone who “loved his mother very much and would do anything for her,” Justice Grau said.

“He was a caring person when he was well, but at the time Ms Condon died, he was clearly unwell.”

Name suppression

Parr’s whānau requested permanent name suppression for Parr and his mother.

Justice Grau said that while she had the “utmost sympathy” for the whānau, she was unable to grant suppression.

She said there were two reasons why she declined name suppression.

Firstly, Parr’s name and details of his first killing had already been reported which would not change if she made an order for suppression in relation to his mother’s death.

“The second is that this is a case where the public interest in open justice must prevail. There is rightly a high degree of public interest in learning of the circumstances in which a person who has been released into the community under the supervision of mental health services has gone on to kill again. While this case represents a family tragedy, it also represents a wider tragedy to the community.”

Justice Grau said it was a case where Parr had killed another person while suffering from mental illness “against a backdrop of apparent significant failures in the mental health system”.

“These are matters that the public has an interest and an entitlement to know about.”

Parr also posed an “ongoing and serious risk to public safety”.

An appeal was then made against Justice Grau’s decision to not order any suppressions.

‘Overwhelming public interest’

In its decision, the Court of Appeal said tikanga may assist courts in determining whether or not an applicant had demonstrated they would suffer extreme hardship or whether a victim had established they would suffer undue hardship if name suppression was declined, and in assessing the extent of that hardship.

“But, even assessing the hardship of Mr Parr’s whānau through that tikanga lens, we are not persuaded that that hardship outweighed the strong public interest in open justice in this case.”

The Court agreed with Justice Grau that there was an “overwhelming interest” in giving supremacy to the principles of open justice.

“Mr Parr’s name is already known to the public in connection with the killing of Ms Maulolo and the profound failings of the mental health system which contributed to that tragedy. The fact that Mr Parr has again killed a person closely connected to him whilst suffering from mental illness is a matter of overwhelming public interest.”

The Court said while the media had been able to convey a lot of information about Parr’s actions without naming him or his mother, further inquiries and the inquest into Condon’s death would be “hampered” if it was not possible for authorities to openly identify Parr.

The public also had a right to know about Parr’s “distressing history of violence”, in order that they are aware of the risks he may pose if he was ever released into the community again.

The Court added that Maulolo’s family had a “unique interest” in knowing, and being free to discuss, that Parr had killed another person closely connected to him.

“These factors overwhelmingly lead us to conclude that the hardship suffered by the whānau does not outweigh the principle of open justice in this case.”

Review under way

Health New Zealand (HNZ) national director of mental health & addictions enhancement, Phil Grady, said on Monday the case was an incredibly tragic event.

“Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and communities affected. On behalf of Health New Zealand, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone impacted,” Grady said.

“It is completely understandable that people feel let down and are seeking answers. We acknowledge those concerns and want to approach them with openness and respect, while recognising the deep impact this has had on both victim’s loved ones, the wider community, and the staff involved in Mr Parr’s care.”

Grady said HNZ also recognised that questions had been raised about aspects of Parr’s care and the decisions made at the time.

“These were complex clinical decisions based on the information available, and the external review has carefully examined those concerns.

“Where the review has identified areas that could be clearer or stronger, such as expectations around drug screening, information sharing, and clinical oversight, we are acting on those findings to improve consistency and strengthen practice across the service.”

Health NZ reviewed every serious adverse event that occurs within its services, and were committed to learning from them, he said.

“An external review of the care Mr Parr received leading up to this event is currently being finalised, led by senior Health NZ staff from outside the Central Region to ensure independence.

“We are committed to implementing any recommended changes so that we continue to strengthen the quality and safety of the care we provide.

“Events of this nature are incredibly tragic, but when they occur, we take them extremely seriously. The learning from this event is already informing improvements across the service, including strengthening clinical leadership, improving information sharing, clarifying clinical protocols such as drug screening, and enhancing whānau engagement and staff training.”

Mental health care in the community was complex, and risk could never be removed entirely, he said

“Especially in the case of serious mental illness, but these improvements are designed to strengthen safeguards and provide reassurance to the people we care for, their whānau, and the wider community.”

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said in a statement his thoughts were with the families impacted.

“I have made it very clear to HNZ that patient and public safety must always be paramount, clearly situations like this are not good enough. New Zealanders deserve to have trust that when people are in the care of mental health services, the appropriate care is being taken to ensure patient and public safety is at the forefront of all decisions,” he said.

“As Minister, my focus is on ensuring agencies put in place all necessary changes to prevent tragedies like this from occurring again. I have made it very clear to Health New Zealand that they must move quickly to implement the findings of the reviews and make all necessary changes to prevent this from happening again.”

Doocey was awaiting the Director of Mental Health’s decision on whether he was satisfied with the review and whether any further action needs to be taken.

The Ministry of Health also extended its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and communities affected by these tragic events.

Following Parr’s second killing Health New Zealand commissioned an external review into the care provided to the individual.

“Health New Zealand has already made changes since the incident, and I support their work,” Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw said.

He said the external review was being led by an external expert panel and is near completion.

“Once the external review is available, I will carefully consider whether any further actions are required.”

TIMELINE:

August 1995: Parr was admitted to hospital under the mental health act after twice cutting his wrists and attempting to hang himself. After attacking a policeman in 1996 he was made a compulsory patient.

March 1996: Less than two weeks after being made a compulsory patient Parr was discharged from Hutt Hospital by psychiatrist Linda Astor without even meeting him. Astor later fled the country and was later unmasked as a bogus psychiatrist.

April 1997: Leslie Parr, 27, killed Fiona Maulolo, 31 in Naenae. Maulolo was his partner. A jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity. A judge ordered he be detained in a special secure unit and not freed without the health minister’s authority.

August 2002: Coroner Garry Evans releases a damning report into Parr’s psychiatric care, finding it was seriously deficient.

Parr was released back in the community in 2012.

In 2021, Parr’s status was changed to being a patient under the Mental Health Act.

May 2024: Parr was admitted to a mental health facility following an altercation with a relative. He was released about a week later on May 30.

4 June 2024: Parr kills his mother, Heather Condon.

April 2025: Justice Karen Grau finds Parr not criminally responsible for the death of his mother on account of insanity. He is detained in a hospital as a special patient under the Mental Health Act.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/leslie-parr-revealed-as-man-twice-ruled-insane-after-committing-two-separate-killings/

Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/new-zealand-costume-designer-adds-oscar-to-trophy-case/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Food prices are likely to rise if war in the Middle East keeps pressure on oil prices – but some types of food may be more affected than others.

Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan looked at which sectors might be most exposed by comparing the proportion of their costs devoted to oil-based fuels.

He said the fishing sector was top of the list. It spent about 25 percent of its input costs on oil-based fuels.

“Diesel for boats, presumably.”

That was followed by horticulture, which spent about 5 percent of its costs on oil-based fuel.

“Presumably that’s around heating or that kind of thing.”

Next was farming more generally,

“You get down to broader areas of farming, sheep and beef… where you’re talking about 3 percent to 4 percent of overall input costs.”

He said fertiliser could be an additional cost that was also exposed to energy price movements.

Supermarkets spent about 10 percent of their non-wage costs on transport, he said, and meat processing was at a similar level.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said food coming from overseas would also be affected.

“The issue is how transportation costs start going through – I guess anything that’s having to come from overseas is going to have a higher transportation component.”

Kiernan agreed.

“Stuff that is having to travel halfway around the world – cocoa beans or coffee or whatever it might be – that is potentially going to be more heavily impacted than stuff we’re producing globally.”

Eckhold said it could be a couple of months before food price rises started to be seen on New Zealand shelves.

“That’s what we got through Covid… there is a bit of a lead there between movements in global food prices and what we see here, assuming it’s not driven by a local climatic type thing. There’s about a six-month lag. Some of that stuff could be building all through this year.”

Eckhold said it could be the case that more businesses would start to charge a separate fuel surcharge to cover their additional costs.

“I would envisage you could see the introduction of a whole lot of surcharges coming on to things, as people say, ‘Well hey, I’ve got this particular identifiable increased cost,’ and you’ll find that you might end up having to pay an extra $5 or $10 or something like that for anything that’s got a clear transportation component – courier fees and things like that, for example.”

He said he now expected the Consumer Price Index to stay above 3 percent until the end of the year.

Infometrics’ supplier cost index showed costs to Foodstuffs supermarkets up 2.3 percent year-on-year in February, before the oil price rise began to be felt.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/fuel-crisis-which-foods-will-rise-in-price-fastest-and-when/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The winner of the $30,000 top prize in this year’s Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza says the secret is pilchard bait and his dad’s fishing rigs.

Harley Ra, who was raised in Kaitāia but works in Perth, hooked the 7.665 kilogram winner on Saturday, the final day of the five-day contest.

Ra suspected he had the winning fish as soon as he pulled it into the shallows.

“It ran for a fair bit. Then it started going sideways. I thought it was a stingray, but then there were more head nods, and it just kept stripping line,” he said.

“It wasn’t till I seen it get close, I seen the big tail flipping up, and I thought it was a stingray wing, and I thought ‘oh bugger’. Then just as it got into the clear shallows, I saw it was a snapper, and I was screaming out, ‘holy shit, it’s a moocha’.”

“I ran straight down to the water to grab it and grab my trace. It snapped at the water’s edge, and I dug into its gills straight away to grab it.”

That was just after 8am.

“It was early, and I was nervous the whole time. I pretty much knew it was the winner then. And I was like, I need to get back to the ramp [contest headquarters] to weigh this ASAP. So I was nervous hanging around. About 12 o’clock, I packed up and boosted straight back to the tents for weigh-in.”

Ra said he had fished in the Snapper Classic – an earlier version of the contest – as a child with his father and uncles, but this was only his second time competing in the Bonanza.

Using the right bait was key to success on Ninety Mile Beach, he said.

“I used BKK circle hooks, and the bait was pilchard, just half a pilchard. It always works up the Ninety [Mile Beach]. When the bite’s hot, pilchard’s the go, and then when the bite cools down, then you go to ocky (octopus])and crayfish and all your other exotic baits.”

Ra also credited his father, John Ra, who was known in Kaitāia as an expert rig-maker.

“Dad does all our fishing tackle. He does some pretty mean fishing rigs. He even does his own bit of YouTube and Facebook showing how to do it.”

As well as the $30,000 top prize for heaviest snapper of the contest, Ra took home $2500 for Saturday’s biggest fish.

He confessed to feeling “a bit hazy” after that night’s celebrations.

“We drank a few at the tent, and then went down to the Awanui pub. The boys filled the cup up, and we drank from the cup.”

As for what he would spend his winnings on, Ra said he would leave that to his wife, Alicia.

“I let her decide. She makes the smarter decisions.”

Ra said he would definitely be back next year – as long as he could get a ticket.

Tickets were capped at 1200 and sold out in less than an hour when they went online.

“So when they go on sale here at seven, that’s 2am in Perth, so you gotta set the alarm at 1am. Get up, make a coffee, and get ready to start hammering the button at two in the morning.”

Until Ra hooked his winning snapper, Ōpōtiki man Darin Maxwell was on track to become the first fisher to win the competition twice.

In the end, Maxwell had to console himself with second place and cash prizes totalling $4500 for a fish weighing 7.25kg.

Maxwell’s monster 12.03kg catch in 2012 remains the heaviest snapper caught in the competition’s 15-year history.

The Bonanza, which has been held every March since 2011, is said to be the world’s largest surfcasting competition.

Fishing is permitted only from Ninety Mile Beach – or Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe – not from rocks or boats.

The contest is organised by Kaitāia publican Dave Collard and printer John Stewart, who rescued the event after the Snapper Classic folded due to financial difficulties in 2009.

The annual prize pool totals more than $200,000.

About 120 fish caught during the contest were auctioned off at Saturday’s Kaitāia Market, raising more than $14,000 for the Kaitāia Volunteer Fire Brigade.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/ninety-mile-beach-snapper-bonanza-winner-reveals-his-secrets/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Deputy Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency has resigned while under investigation in relation to allegations of bullying and harassment.

Social Investment Agency (SIA) Deputy Chief Executive Kylie Reiri left the job last month. Her departure comes after former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster quit in December following a scathing Independent Police Conduct Authority report.

Within days of Coster’s resignation, RNZ was contacted with allegations that Reiri was under investigation in relation to complaints of bullying and harassment.

RNZ contacted Reiri at the time who said she was on leave due to health-related reasons. She did not respond to requests for comment over the weekend.

• Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

Approached for comment in December, the SIA said they did not comment on individual employment matters. Asked why that was and for the status of Reiri’s employment, the SIA treated the follow up questions as a request under the Official Information Act (OIA).

Then, in January, the SIA released an OIA which said they do not generally comment on individual employment matters “as the disclosure of information relating to individual employees would involve the unwarranted disclosure of personal information”.

The following month Reiri resigned.

In an email on February 12, released to RNZ, SIA’s acting chief executive and secretary for social investment Alistair Mason said Reiri had resigned.

“We acknowledge the contribution Kylie has made during her time here. We thank her for her service to the organisation and wish her well for the future,” he said.

“I know you may have questions, however, out of respect for Kylie’s privacy I am not able to discuss this matter.”

In an OIA released to RNZ, the SIA confirmed there had been two employment investigations over the last 12 months.

“I am also able to confirm that there has been one investigation in response to four formal reports of bullying and harassment. In the interest of privacy, we cannot provide a breakdown as to what each allegation was concerning.”

RNZ understands the investigation, which is ongoing, relates to Reiri.

“As a responsible employer, SIA takes these matters seriously and all complaints are investigated and followed through to the end. We have robust policies and procedures to manage disclosure of any allegations including protected disclosures (speak safe) and bullying and harassment policies, which provide informal and formal options for staff to raise concerns of serious wrongdoing and bullying and harassment.”

A SIA spokesperson said in a statement to RNZ they could confirm Reiri had resigned from her role.

About a month before the IPCA’s report was released, Coster sent an email to all staff following a meeting that day.

In the email, seen by RNZ, Coster said it was important for him that the SIA was an organisation “where each one of us feels we can bring our best to our work, in an environment that is positive and enabling.”

“Acknowledging the wider context from the Public Service census (in which we fared well and in connection with which we have an action plan), some comments in a recent Te Rama survey have given me cause for concern. I want to be able to address any issues, to ensure this is a place where everyone feels respected and valued. To do this, I need to understand your experiences and perspectives.

“To that end, I want to make myself available to meet with anyone who would like to talk. If you have something to share, please reach out to me directly. Anything you share will be treated with respect and care. I value your thoughts and insights, and I will only use what you share in a way that aligns with what you are comfortable with. I understand that speaking up isn’t easy but I invite you to feel that I will listen and take action where that is required.”

About a month later, he emailed staff about the IPCA report.

“In light of that report, I’ve agreed with the Public Service Commissioner that I will take leave while we work through a process connected with it. In my absence, Alistair Mason will cover for me.

“I’m sorry to have to step out at this time. Thank you for the amazing work you’re all doing.”

Then, two days later, Mason emailed staff and said he’d had a “good conversation with Minister [Nicola] Willis last night”.

“The primary purpose of the conversation was her wanting to check-in on the wellbeing of the agency and the staff. She wanted to know if there was anything she could do and if we are getting the support we need. Importantly she expressed her ongoing confidence in the Social Investment Agency.

“The Social Investment Board also had an ad hoc meeting last night and have again expressed their support for the agency and offered to lean in and support wherever they can. And of course I am in regular contact with PSC who are offering any support we need.”

In December, RNZ asked SIA Minister Nicola Willis’ office for comment on the matter. They said questions were best put to the SIA.

“Staffing within agencies is an operational matter for which Ministers don’t have responsibility.”

On Monday, a spokesperson for Willis said the Minister didn’t have any comment to make.

“Employment matters within government agencies are for agency chief executives and, if warranted, the Public Service Commission to manage.”

Reiri’s profile on the SIA website, which has since been taken down, said she brought a “unique blend of public and private sector experience to the Social Investment Agency”.

“Her career has been dedicated to improving outcomes for New Zealanders through data-driven decision making and social investment approaches.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/social-investment-agency-deputy-resigns-while-under-bullying-harassment-investigation/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington commuters are facing kilometres of bumper-to-bumper traffic after two crashes within half-an-hour on State Highway 2.

Motorists are being warned to expect significant delays heading into the city following a two-car collision just before the Ngauranga off-ramp and one after the Dowse interchange.

Transport Agency says one lane remains blocked following the first crash, with traffic queuing as far back as the Melling intersection.

Emergency services were called to the first two-vehicle crash just before 8am on Monday, followed by a nose-to-tail around 8.20am.

A police spokesperson said one person sustained injuries in the first crash near Ngauranga and one vehicle remains to be towed.

The Transport Agency said the right southbound lane remains blocked at Ngauranga with contractors, tow vehicles, and emergency services on-site.

“Take extra care when passing and continue to expect significant delays as traffic is queued back past Melling intersection.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/16/wellington-state-highway-2-heavily-congested-after-two-crashes/