KEY POINTS:
A violent gangster who lived in Government minister Paula Bennett's home had his parole application denied because he was still considered an "undue risk".
A Parole Board decision, obtained by the Herald on Sunday, also said Viliami Halaholo was "an identified drug user" in prison.
Halaholo, 23, was jailed on June 14, 2007, for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and intent to steal by extortion.
His girlfriend is Bennett's 21-year-old daughter, Ana. The couple have a daughter Tiara-Lee, 2.
A fortnight ago, Bennett was forced to reveal two previously undisclosed letters she wrote to a judge and a Parole Board in support of Halaholo, a member of the Thugs of Canal youth gang.
Before he was jailed, Halaholo was bailed to live at Bennett's address in Titirangi for six months but had been in her and Ana's life for several years.
"I've got no comment to make on his convictions," Bennett said through a spokeswoman yesterday.
"My focus is on the wellbeing of my daughter and my granddaughter."
Halaholo is no stranger to crime. In April 2003 he was convicted in the Auckland District Court for assaulting a person with a blunt instrument; then in August he racked up three convictions for common assault. Later in the same year, he was charged with disorderly behaviour.
Halaholo was rejected for an early release from prison last July when he went efore the Parole Board. His official release date is July 28, 2011.
In its decision, the Parole Board said Halaholo's risk of reoffending was "high given his present age and his history of offending".
The board said that since being jailed on June 14, 2007, he had become an "identified drug user" although he had returned three negative drug tests since March 31, 2008.
And he had "numerous incident reports" on his file, some incidents as recent as June last year.
"We note he has a continuing support of his partner and his family," the report said. "Because Mr Halaholo has yet to officially address his offending given the violent nature of the current offending and his previous convictions for violence, this board is not satisfied at this stage that if released he would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community."
Halaholo was jailed after a brutal attack on April 1, 2005, in Avondale. Halaholo and several friends arrived at a small party, uninvited, about 10pm and demanded cigarettes and beer. When they were told to leave, Halaholo and his group smashed bottles and pot plants.
Partygoers then chased Halaholo and his friends up the road where about eight men, including Halaholo, armed themselves with fence palings.
Halaholo hit the victim at least once to his head, causing a laceration.
