The Parole Board refuses to release the former leader of the Christian Heritage Party, Graham Capill, from prison.
Capill, a convicted paedophile, began a nine year sentence in 2006, after his conviction for abusing three young girls.
The board says Capill poses no threat to his victims, due to their age and circumstances, but they are concerned other children would be at risk if he was released.
It says those concerns are difficult to ignore.
With about four years and nine months of his sentence remaining, the board says Mr Capill could pose an undue risk to the community if he's released without the benefit of treatment.
Capill is still waiting to be assessed for entry into the Kia Marama rehabilitation programme in prison.