Awatere Huata paroled

Donna Awatere Huata

Former Act MP Donna Awatere Huata has been paroled after less than three months on home detention and nine months in jail.

Awatere Huata was sentenced to two years and nine months jail on September 30 last year, following conviction on a number of charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Her husband Wi Huata was found guilty of similar charges and sentenced two years imprisonment but bailed until the couple's appeals against conviction due to be heard later this year.

The Parole Board heard the case in July and published its decision on Friday.

The board said in its decision she would not be an "undue risk to the safety of the community".

Among the conditions of her parole is a ban on holding any position of authority within a trust or organisation, particularly as signatory to any money or funds for any organisation, until her parole ends in May 2008.

Last week tax-avoidance charges against Awatere Huata were withdrawn in Hastings District Court.

Awatere Huata was charged in June by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for failing to file a tax return for the financial years ending in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

IRD lawyer Daniel Kerr said the charges were to be withdrawn because all the returns had been belatedly filed.

- NZPA