Parole after a quarter?

Marty Sharpe at Stuff reports:

A Mongrel Mob leader with a long list of convictions for violence has been freed on parole after vowing to change his ways.

Sonny Charlton Kaori Smith, 48, was freed in January, two years after he was sentenced to eight years’ jail for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

One of our lawyers may be able to help, but I thought you had to serve at least a third of your sentence before you were eligible for parole. I’ve not previously heard of parole two years into an eight year sentence.

I’m not commenting per se on the decision of the Parole Board, as I don’t have enough info to comment on why they though such early release would lead to rehabilitation. But I am surprised that someone can gain parole at such an early stage.