The mother of the man who murdered Blessie Gotingco, says she is "devastated" with what he did and has apologised for his crimes.
Tony Robertson was yesterday named as the man who raped and murdered Mrs Gotingco in May 2014 after name suppression lapsed. He was convicted of the crime in the Auckland High Court two months ago.
Robertson's mother Maria McWatters told TVNZ that she was "mortified" after learning of her son's horrific crimes.
"I'm upset, I'm mortified by the whole situation. I was of the understanding that the whole thing was an accident ... didn't know about the rape," Ms McWatters said.
She told TVNZ that Robertson needs help and needs to "own up and admit to what he's done".
"I mean he's my son and as a mother you don't want to believe that your son was capable [of] doing something like that ... I'm devastated."
Ms McWatters said he tried several times to write an apology letter but words couldn't describe her feeling, TVNZ reported.
"I'm so sorry ... I'm really, really sorry that my son did this."
Earlier in the day the Government announced an independent review of Corrections' monitoring of Robertson.
At the time of the murder, Robertson was being electronically monitored for a previous crime - he had spent eight years in prison for abducting and indecently assaulting a 5-year-old girl in Tauranga. That was suppressed during his murder trial.
Yesterday, Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga said he was confident Corrections had done everything they could to monitor Robertson.
However, he announced today that he wanted the department's role to be reviewed.
"I have decided the family of Blessie Gotingco and the public need some independent assurance about Corrections' part in the handling of the Robertson case," Mr Lotu-Iiga said.
"Although this is an isolated incident, the public need to have confidence that they are safe in our communities and that is why I want an independent review of the action taken in relation to Robertson's oversight after he was released from prison."
Mr Lotu-Iiga said the review was announced after yesterday's lifting of Robertson's name suppression as it "was appropriate at this time that it is all public and out in the public domain".
He did not think it was appropriate to launch the review while name suppression was still in place.
Mr Lotu-Iiga said he was seeking advice on who will lead the review and what form it will take, and said he planned to discuss the matter at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
Mrs Gontingco's family said they were "relieved" to the review will be carried out.
"They are thankful to Mr Lotu-Iiga for announcing the review," said Gotingco family spokeswoman Ruth Money.
"For the minister to come out in support of the family who called for this review, and in doing so supporting the wider public, it gives them a sense of relief.
"They are keen to be involved in the review, in terms of understanding the scope of the inquiry. They want to make sure that it really is independently done, and by a suitable person."