Former Act Party President Tim Jago Denied Parole After Sexual Offending Conviction

Former Act Party president Tim Jago has been denied parole from his prison sentence for sexual offending, with the Parole Board emphasizing that he has 'very limited acceptance, if any' of the crimes that led to his incarceration. Jago was sentenced to two years and six months in prison in November 2024 after being found guilty of indecent assault on two teenage boys he mentored through a sports club in the 1990s. One of the victims was under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged offenses.

Jago denied the allegations during his trial and has since appealed both his convictions and sentence to the Court of Appeal. However, the outcome of the appeal remains pending. During his appearance before the Parole Board, Jago was repeatedly questioned about whether he now accepts that he committed the offenses. He did not provide an unequivocal answer, instead stating that he was 'prepared to live with that' as the jury had reached a verdict. He also mentioned that the court of public opinion had come to the same conclusion and that he would not push back against it.

While serving his sentence at Tongariro Prison, Jago has been employed in farm work and has assisted other prisoners with literacy issues. His lawyer, Ian Brookie, argued that the offending occurred decades ago and that Jago poses a low risk of reoffending. However, the Parole Board denied his request for release, stating that he would be reviewed again in December. Before that, Jago is expected to discuss the offending with family members and supporters and develop an updated safety plan outlining his activities post-release and his intended stay at his initial release address.

Jago's statutory release date is in May 2027. He has expressed a desire to be released and reintegrate into society, acknowledging the label of a sexual offender but stating he is 'okay with that now.' Jago was president of the Act Party from 2019 to January 2023, when the criminal charges were laid. The trial jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts on eight charges of indecent assault involving the two teenagers.

Jago had name suppression from the time he was charged and fought to maintain it throughout his trial and even after sentencing. However, the suppression lapsed in January 2025.