Key Takeaways
- Haydn Teoneroa Christy, a 40-year-old man at the time of the crime, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with a minimum period of imprisonment of eight years for abducting and sexually violating a woman in Whangārei in 2016.
- Christy is now eligible for parole but has been denied release multiple times due to concerns about his safety plan and ability to manage situations involving vulnerable women.
- The Parole Board has expressed concerns about Christy’s former issues with power, control, and entitlement, and has requested an updated safety plan and more psychological support in place for him in the community.
- Christy has expressed remorse for his offending and claims to have learned from his mistakes, but the Parole Board remains unconvinced.
Introduction to the Crime
The victim, a woman who had been living in Whangārei for a short time, was attacked by Christy while out for a run on the Hātea Loop walking track in 2016. Christy, who was intoxicated and high on methamphetamine at the time, followed the woman, punched her, wounded her with rocks, and abducted her, taking her to his home where he sexually violated her. He played pornography on his television and continued the abuse before threatening to kill her. The woman was eventually dumped on a city street, where she was found by a member of the public and taken to hospital to recover from her injuries.
Sentencing and Parole Hearings
At the time of Christy’s sentencing, the Crown sought preventive detention, but the sentencing judge did not impose it as Christy had no history of sexual assault. Instead, he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with a minimum period of imprisonment of eight years. Christy is now eligible for parole and has appeared before the Parole Board multiple times, but has been denied release due to concerns about his safety plan and ability to manage situations involving vulnerable women. In May 2025, the board declined his bid for release because the address he proposed to reside at was considered too remote. A month later, Christy tested positive for cannabis while living in a self-care unit on prison grounds, which led to him being transferred back inside the wire.
Parole Board Concerns
The Parole Board has expressed concerns about Christy’s former issues with power, control, and entitlement, and has requested an updated safety plan and more psychological support in place for him in the community. At his parole hearing in July, Christy presented a safety plan, but the board was not convinced that he had overcome his issues with power and control. The board’s convener, Ann-Marie Beveridge, pressed Christy for answers about his offending, including how long he had been considering kidnapping a person off the street for his sexual purposes, and why he chose his victim. Christy claimed that his actions were impulsive and that he had not been considering them beforehand, but Beveridge was not convinced.
Christy’s Response to Questions
Christy claimed that he had learned from his mistakes and was no longer the man he was when he committed the crime. He said that he had been angry at the world and unable to cope with his life at the time, and had turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. He also claimed that he had developed distorted beliefs about his entitlement to sex, and that he had used sex as a way to release stress. However, the Parole Board remained unconvinced, and Christy’s parole was again declined. The board took around 20 minutes to deliberate before advising Christy that his parole was declined, citing concerns about his safety plan and ability to manage situations involving vulnerable women.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Christy will return before the Parole Board in April, and will be required to provide an updated safety plan and demonstrate that he has made progress in addressing his issues with power, control, and entitlement. The board’s decision to decline Christy’s parole is a testament to the seriousness with which the justice system takes crimes of this nature, and the need for offenders to demonstrate a genuine commitment to rehabilitation and community safety. As Christy prepares to return before the Parole Board, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to demonstrate the necessary progress and commitment to be considered for release.