He became eligible for parole in 2023 but was denied release then and again in 2025.
Fenton appeared before the Parole Board in February, where his counsel said it was not possible for him to seek parole at this stage because he had not finished an assessment process for release and did not have confirmed accommodation.
The board noted the offending against Dunn could only be described as appalling and callous.
Fenton was also told the views of Queenie Dunn, Mairina’s mother, who does not want anything like this to happen again to any woman or mother. She wanted both the board and Fenton to remember the violence was horrific and not to forget that.
Whangārei 17-year-old Mairina Dunn was brutally murdered by her boyfriend, Nathan Fenton, in 2006.
She does not want Fenton to go to Auckland or north of Auckland if released.
Fenton expressed remorse for the murder and the impact it has had on Mairina’s family.
The most recent psychological report assessed him to be at medium risk of further violent offending and a very high risk of general reoffending.
The psychologist noted that if Fenton were to reoffend violently, it would most likely be against an intimate partner or other men in a context of stress, a perceived sense of disrespect or unresolved relationship conflict. The range of his violent behaviour has the potential to cause significant physical and psychological harm.
The psychologist said the current reintegration and release plan appeared to contain the appropriate elements needed to mitigate Fenton’s risk if released.
“Mr Fenton spoke well to the board today … He has been working for some time outside the wire at the staff cafe. He said that is going well.”
Fenton sent the board a safety plan which he said was the up-to-date version.
“One issue that we saw with the plan was that his unhealthy and risky thoughts were not really thoughts but actions. We also had some concerns when we talked to Mr Fenton about what he would have done differently on the day of the offending,” the decision said.
Fenton was only able to tell the board he would have walked away.
“It seems that there were decisions that Mr Fenton made leading up to the offending during which he could have taken a different path so that he did not commit the murder.”
The board said Fenton knew there was more work he needed to do.
“For one thing, he knows that he needs to do further work on relationships. He said that they have been characterised by power and control which has involved violence and threats.”
The board said there were four protection orders in place against Fenton.
“He said he has learned over his time in prison to develop better relationships with others.”
Fenton will appear before the Parole Board in November.