Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Iwi to talk to Corrections Dept about serial rapist

Updated at 5:18 am on 18 August 2012

Whanganui River iwi say they will be talking with the Corrections Department about serial rapist Stewart Murray Wilson being moved to the outskirts of the city.

Wilson is due to be released from prison after serving his sentence for committing sexual abuse crimes and has been ordered to live on the grounds of Whanganui prison in Kaitoke.

Iwi spokesperson Ken Mair says their preference is to talk directly to Corrections about their concerns, rather than getting caught up in the public hysteria surrounding Wilson's release.

Whanganui kaumatua John Maihi says he doesn't hold a strong view about the conditions on Wilson, but is pleased that police and Corrections will be doing their best to keep the local community safe.

Although he doesn't agree with the crimes committed by Wilson, he is not against him being moved to Whanganui, and says he still needs help.

That view is supported by the MP for the western Maori electorate of Te Tai Hauauru, Tariana Turia.

Mrs Turia says she herself is not a retributive person, and has been trying to think of ways of assisting Wilson when he moves to Whanganui.

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