Calls for strict monitoring of would-be child sex abuser after alleged breach

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says it fears a man convicted of trying to snatch a three-year old could offend again.

John Tekuru was jailed for the attempted abduction, which he did with the intent of sexual abuse.

He was released on 10 March, but a week later on 17 March he was back in custody accused of breaching his release conditions.

The trust says he was released after 12 months in prison under a provision allowing shorter jail time for sentences two years or less.

It has written to Corrections asking for harsher monitoring in the form of an Extended Supervision Order (ESO) or Public Protection Order.

Spokesperson Louise Parsons said Corrections could instruct Crown Law for an ESO to be imposed.

"The guy was given the lowest of lowest sentences which means that he automatically gets released after 50 percent of his sentence," she told Checkpoint on Thursday.

"There's very little risk assessment done because he doesn't go before a Parole Board because it's a short-term sentence."

Parsons claimed Tekuru was "bound to offend again".

"If he had been given a longer sentence obviously he would have had to stay in prison a lot longer, or if he had been given a longer sentence he would have been before the Parole Board and he could have got the help that he probably needs," she said.

Corrections said a person has to be considered a high risk of further offending and meet specific criteria for an ESO.

It said only a very small number of people are likely to have a PPO, or Public Protection Order, imposed.

No application had been made for either of these, it Corrections said.

Its director of Communities, Partners and Pathways, Lynette Cave, said Corrections took extremely seriously how offenders are managed in the community.

"Mr Tekuru had been released from prison on 10 March 2026 under Release on Conditions at the directions of the court," she said.

"However, following a breach of his conditions, identified by Corrections staff, police were advised and he was remanded back into custody on March 17, where he remains until his next court appearance."

Cave said when he was released from prison, Tekuru was taken to an area outside of Rotorua where he offended and prohibited from entering the city without prior written approval from a Probation Officer.

He also had several special conditions including electronic monitoring, no contact with children under 16 unless supervised and authorised, no entering areas where children are likely to be, and not using alcohol or drugs.

Parsons told Checkpoint the trust believed his offending met the bar for extended supervision.

"Do we have to wait for this guy to reoffend before he gets that imposed on him?" she asked.

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