Hawke’s Bay enslaver and human trafficker Joseph Matamata granted parole

RNZ19 Jun, 2026 09:55 PM5 mins to readHawke’s Bay labour contractor Joseph Matamata, convicted of human trafficking and slavery, has been granted parole. Photo / Warren Buckland Hawke’s Bay labour contractor Joseph Matamata, convicted of human trafficking and slavery, has been granted parole. Photo / Warren Buckland By Lucy Xia of RNZA Hawke’s Bay horticultural labour contractor, who was the first person to be convicted of human trafficking and slavery in New Zealand, has been granted parole and will be released next month.

Joseph Matamata, 71, who also goes by Viliamu Samu,