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Corrections staff required to monitor Graeme Burton took more than two weeks to charge the convicted murderer with breaching his parole conditions.
The 35-year-old was not seen by his probation officer last month although he was required to report every week after being released from jail on July 10 last year.
"A telephone only report on December 5 led to a formal warning, and failure to report on December 12 led to breach action being taken," Corrections probation and offender services assistant general manager Tracy Mellor, said.
However, it took the Corrections Department until December 19 to lodge a complaint and three more days for a court hearing when a warrant for Burton's arrest was issued.
The Parole Board ordered Burton back to prison on December 29.
Six days later, on January 4, armed police who raided a central Wellington address where Burton had been staying found an arsenal including guns, knives and ammunition.
The armed offenders squad found a Glock pistol, a .22 rifle, two rifles cut down to pistols, ammunition, knives, batons, a Kevlar helmet, a telescopic sight and a crossbow.
Burton was caught on Saturday when he was shot in the right leg by police in the hills to the east of Lower Hutt. Burton had a shotgun, knife and loaded pistol.
In a rampage since he fled to escape arrest last month, Burton allegedly staged two home invasions, assaulted several people and killed Wainuiomata man Karl Kuchenbecker with a shotgun blast.
Burton is in Wellington Hospital in a stable condition, recovering after doctors amputated his injured leg.
The revelation Burton missed several mandatory weekly meetings with his probation officer before authorities moved to have the convicted murderer returned to jail, has horrified National justice spokesman Simon Power.
"Failures of this nature will only have the public asking more questions. Rather than the issue looking as if it was handled as best could be hoped for, it is clear that Burton was at large for some time and that makes it an unacceptable risk for the public putting them in harm's way."
Corrections is preparing a report on the case for Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor and the Parole Board is conducting an internal review.
Ms Mellor said Corrections had completed its initial review of Burton's sentence management, but details would not be released until the full investigation was completed.
The Corrections Department took breach action against 271 parolees in the year to June 2006.
Over the same period, the Parole Board recalled 175 parolees to prison. Twelve were serving life sentences.
Of the 1625 offenders subject to parole conditions at the start of the year, 228 had been sentenced to life.
"Whether he was on drugs or alcohol or whatever, we'll need to speak to Burton in order to determine that," said Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter.
Police used a helicopter to scour the area for clues to Burton's movements, including the possibility that he had been camping in the area over the weekend.
Nick and Kate Rea, who crossed paths with Burton on Saturday and escaped with a broken nose and a shotgun wound respectively, helped police retrace Burton's movements.
Autopsy results showed Mr Kuchenbecker had been felled by a shotgun blast. Police said the coroner would determine the cause of death.
A mountain biker who was shot in the elbow on Saturday was operated on again yesterday. His friend was found to have a shotgun pellet in his hand that will also need surgery.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact them on 0508 324 734 or 0508 FAIRFIELD.
Family: don't let this tragedy happen again
The distraught family of Karl Kuchenbecker, the 26-year-old quadbiker gunned down in Graeme Burton's bloody rampage have demanded changes to prevent similar tragedies.
"This situation has come as a complete shock and is devastating for the family. Karl was an incredible man and a committed, loving father of two adorable children.
"We are horrified that such a terrible event could happen in New Zealand and we hope efforts are made to ensure an innocent person's life is not taken in a similar manner again."
Mr Kuchenbecker was gunned down on Saturday as fugitive Graeme Burton roamed the firebreak along the eastern hills of Lower Hutt. Three other people were shot and a man suffered a broken nose before a standoff with police ended the carnage.
A friend, who did not want to be named, said he used to see Mr Kuchenbecker every day.
"If he wasn't at my house, I was with him somewhere else. He used to come up all the time. And now he won't be.
"It was pretty mind-blowing.
"You always heard about people getting murdered, but it's never anyone you know, and this time it is."
- Derek Cheng
COUNTDOWN TO A KILLING
Dec 5
Convicted murderer Graeme Burton rings his parole officer, instead of reporting personally, in breach of weekly reporting condition
Dec 12
Burton again fails to show up for scheduled weekly meeting
Dec 19
Corrections lodges complaint over parole breach
Dec 22
Warrant issued for Burton's arrest
Jan 3
Burton allegedly attacks man in apartment, leaving him with broken bones
Jan 4
Police find weapons hoard at Burton's home
Jan 6
Burton allegedly invades home in Lower Hutt, terrorising three teenagers
Jan 7
Burton allegedly kills 26-year-old Karl Kuchenbecker and shoots at four others on a mountain bike trail near Lower Hutt. He is captured when police shoot him in the leg.
