Tamihere home in eight days

David Tamihere. File Photo / NZ Herald

Convicted double murderer David Tamihere will be paroled to his family home tomorrow week, his longtime partner has confirmed.

Kris Tamihere said yesterday Tamihere was not in good health, had bad arthritis and a heart condition.

He no longer had his distinctive dropped moustache and was heavier because of the medication he takes, and his hair was grey, she said.

Tamihere, 57, was convicted in 1990 for the murder of Swedish backpackers Urban Hoglin and his fiancee Heidi Paakkonen in the Coromandel and has spent 20 years in jail.

He has tried for parole 14 times.

Tamihere has always denied killing the couple and Kris Tamihere believes he is innocent.

She said there were no special celebrations planned for Tamihere when he was released.

"No, no, no we are not allowed to. We just want to get on with our lives. It's been a long time coming. We are happy he is back home with us."

She was unsure what to cook for him on his first day home.

"He is a regular eater. He likes meat and veg like every other bloke," she said.

"David has been away for a very long time. The other thing is we can't really do anything because he is going to be monitored with an ankle bracelet. So he will be at home," she said.

One of Tamihere's conditions is that he is electronically monitored at his home for five years.

Kris Tamihere said it would be a huge adjustment for Tamihere when he was released.

"So much has changed in the world since he has been inside."

Kris Tamihere said she still loved Tamihere despite their years apart.

Earlier this year the Herald on Sunday revealed Tamihere was out on short home releases.

Detectives had asked the Parole Board to make it a condition of his release that Tamihere reveal the whereabouts of Paakkonen's body.

But Parole Board members said that because of his continual denials of killing the couple, they saw no point in continually asking for Paakkonen's remains.

Hoglin's body was found in the Coromandel by pig hunters in 1991 after the couple went missing on April 8, 1989.

PAROLE CONDITIONS

* Must not drink alcohol or take illicit drugs for the rest of his life.

* Electronic monitoring at a residential property for five years.

* Engage with support services.

* Have a psychological assessment.

* Complete any treatment/counselling and maintenance for the adult sex offenders' programme, as directed by parole officers.

* Take alcohol and drug counselling.

* Notify parole officer before starting, finishing or changing jobs.

* Attend a family hui.

* Attend a Parole Board meeting that will see how he is coping.

* Not contact the families and friends of his victims.