The man wrongfully convicted for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett has been awarded another $1 million in compensation.

Teina Pora spent over 21 years in prison before his conviction was quashed by the Privy Council in March 2015. The Privy Council did not order a retrial.

Mr Pora was convicted in 1994, and again in 2000, of murder, sexual violation by rape and aggravated burglary in relation to the death of Susan Burdett in Papatoetoe in 1992.

In June last year the previous Government agreed to pay just over $2.5 million in compensation for his wrongful conviction and imprisonment, after considering reports from retired High Court Judge Rodney Hansen QC.

In a further development, new Justice Minister Andrew Little has announced that the Government will provide Teina Pora with an inflation adjustment to his compensation for wrongful conviction and 20 years of imprisonment.

“Teina Pora will receive an extra $988,099 as an inflation adjustment, bringing the total compensation package to $3,509,048.42.  Additionally Mr Pora will receive $45,000 in costs from his successful judicial review of the last National Government’s refusal to inflation adjust.

“Teina Pora was the victim of one of New Zealand’s worst miscarriages of justice.

“He was robbed of more than two decades of his life, languishing in prison for crimes he did not commit. These were years when Mr Pora could have been working to build his future and his family,” he says.