Key Takeaways
- Joseph Matamata (also known as Viliamu Samu), a Hawke’s Bay horticultural labour contractor, was New Zealand’s first person convicted of both human trafficking and slavery, receiving an 11‑year sentence.
- Between 1994 and 2019 he brought 13 Samoan nationals to New Zealand on short‑term holiday visas, forced them to work up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, and withheld wages, physically abused them, and restricted their movement.
- The Court of Appeal later quashed two trafficking convictions due to a procedural error, but the slavery convictions and most trafficking charges stood.
- After serving nearly six years, Matamata appeared before the Parole Board for a third time; he was denied parole twice previously but was granted release next month.
- The Board acknowledged his expressed remorse and participation in rehabilitation programmes, yet noted he minimised the severity of his offending and lacked full insight into its impact.
- Risk factors highlighted by the Board included potential financial pressures and family‑related requests that could rekindle offending behaviour.
- Matamata’s lawyer stressed that he was motivated by cultural obligations to fund Samoan ceremonies and events, and that loans taken to bring workers over were expected to be repaid through their labour.
- The Board accepted a psychologist’s review of his safety plan, found no concerns, and supported a guided release with community organisations to aid reintegration while preserving his Pasifika ties.
- Prison staff reported that Matamata interacted positively with diverse inmate groups, maintained compliance, and engaged in social activities during incarceration.
Background of the Case
Joseph Matamata, a 71‑year‑old horticultural labour contractor from Hawke’s Bay, became the first individual in New Zealand to be convicted of both human trafficking and slavery. In 2020 he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after being found guilty of exploiting 13 Samoan nationals and on multiple trafficking charges. His offending spanned a quarter‑century, from 1994 until 2019, during which he recruited workers under the guise of short‑term holiday visas.
Nature of the Exploitation
The court heard that Matamata compelled his victims to work up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, on orchards and at his residence. Their movement was tightly controlled; they were prohibited from contacting families in Samoa or leaving his Hastings home without permission. Wages were systematically withheld, and Immigration New Zealand conservatively estimated that he retained more than NZ $400,000 of earnings that rightfully belonged to the workers.
Physical Abuse and Control Tactics
Victims described a regime of fear and violence. Matamata’s youngest victim, a 12‑year‑old boy, was beaten and stabbed with a secateur. A 15‑year‑old girl, who believed she would attend school in New Zealand, was forced to look after Matamata’s children, cook, and clean. After escaping to Auckland she was recaptured, tied up in Matamata’s car during the return trip to Hastings, and locked in a storeroom overnight. Physical punishment was administered for perceived rule breaches, reinforcing a climate of terror.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
Although Matamata was convicted on 13 counts of slavery and numerous trafficking charges, the Court of Appeal later nullified two of the trafficking convictions because of a procedural error in the Solicitor‑General’s office. The slavery convictions and the remaining trafficking charges remained intact, preserving the gravity of his sentence.
Parole Board Hearing – First Appearance
Matamata appeared before the Parole Board for the third time in early 2025, having served nearly six years of his 11‑year term. He had been refused parole on two prior occasions. Board member Serina Bailey noted that while the Board believed it could mitigate undue risk of reoffending, it observed that Matamata had minimised his offending and lacked a full appreciation of the harm caused to his victims.
Matamata’s Remorse and Explanations
Through his lawyer, Regena Sommers, Matamata expressed regret for using the victims and failing to recognise their needs. He claimed his actions were driven by financial pressure to fund Samoan ceremonies and events, which could cost up to NZ $100,000. He stated that loans taken to cover workers’ flights were expected to be repaid through their labour, describing this as “their way of contributing.” When questioned about the assaults, he attributed them to youthful behaviour, insisting his life changed after marriage and fatherhood.
Board’s Concerns About Minimisation
Parole Board member Materoa Dodd acknowledged honesty in some of Matamata’s responses but criticised his tendency to downplay the violence by referencing past youthful conduct. She stressed that the assaults in question were directly tied to his current offending, not to earlier behaviour. Board member Alistair Spierling pointed out that Matamata’s safety plan identified greed or money as a primary risk factor, yet he had not addressed those motivations during the hearing.
Rehabilitation and Risk Management
Matamata told the Board that a rehabilitation programme had improved his anger‑management skills and taught him strategies for handling high‑risk situations. He outlined personal safeguards, such as walking away if his wife were unhappy or considering repercussions before engaging in a confrontation. He also noted that any request from extended family to bring more relatives to New Zealand could pose a risk, given that similar requests had led to his offending, and said he would refuse such pleas.
Support Plans for Release
Matamata’s case manager informed the Board that applications had been lodged for community‑organisation support to facilitate a “guided release.” This arrangement aims to help him reintegrate while maintaining his Pasifika cultural connections. A prison officer testified that during his incarceration Matamata interacted positively with inmates of various cultures, participated in social gatherings, and consistently complied with prison rules, indicating good adjustment to the structured environment.
Conclusion and Imminent Release
After weighing his expressed remorse, participation in rehabilitative work, the psychologist’s safety‑plan review, and the proposed community support, the Parole Board decided to grant Matamata parole. He is scheduled for release next month, marking the end of a nearly six‑year incarceration period for crimes that shocked the nation and highlighted vulnerabilities in New Zealand’s immigration and labour‑exploitation safeguards. The case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilant oversight of migrant worker programmes and robust support systems for victims of trafficking and slavery.