A 74-year-old woman on a parole recall warrant is serving a life sentence for murder committed three decades ago and has previously been recalled to prison four times.
Police are still seeking public help to locate Bronwyn Warwick who they say is considered dangerous and should not be approached.
The Parole Board said Warwick was serving a life sentence for murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping in 1992, and had committed two very serious offences while on release.
Despite her long history of violence, the Parole Board last released her in 2018.
At the time, the Parole Board acknowledged Warwick had been recalled to prison each time she was released on parole, including in 2010 when she was involved in an aggravated robbery which landed her in prison for a further four years and six months sentence.
She was again released in 2016 and recalled in 2018, before her next release on parole later that year.
Deciding her release, the Parole Board said that Warwick's drug use had contributed to her recalls but she had less need for pain relief due to a recent hip replacement.
"It is difficult to know whether what Ms Warwick has said to us today is correct. However, it does seem clear that all of her recent difficulties have arisen because of drug taking," chairperson Sir Ron Young said.
"It also seems probable that some of the drug taking, at least, perhaps all, did arise from the pain she had from her hip. She certainly seems to have recovered well from her operation.
"As she is no longer an undue risk. She can be released."
Warwick was granted parole subject to seven special conditions in place until the end of this year, including to attend alcohol and drug assessments and live at a designated address.
A year after her release, in 2019, the Parole Board held its second and final monitoring hearing, noting she had been released and recalled to prison on four occasions.
"She committed further offences while subject to those releases, two very serious offences involving aggravated robbery and kidnapping. She has a long history of violence," Sir Ron wrote.
But the board reported Warwick had done "extremely well" on parole in the year since her release in 2018.
"She is settled. She has a job, good accommodation and save for one issue relating to her cannabis use, has prospered," he wrote.
In the report Sir Ron said Warwick had a long history of addiction to cannabis, primarily for pain relief, which had "caused her difficulty on parole".
"She now has obtained a prescription for the medical use of cannabis. She is currently transitioning to that use. It seems likely she is continuing to use non-prescribed cannabis in the meantime, as well as the prescribed cannabis."
Police said Warwick was known to frequent Counties Manukau, but also had ties across Auckland.
They are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact police on 105, quoting file number 230315/5915.
They can also call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
RNZ
