The New Zealand Parole Board confirmed its decision today to release Bouwer as he was no longer an undue risk to the community.
The 67-year-old is subject to a deportation order and upon his release from prison on October 11 will be handed into the custody of Immigration New Zealand or New Zealand Police to be returned to his native South Africa.
Bouwer's lawyer, David More, said he had spoken to Bouwer this morning.
"He's happy with it [the decision]," Mr More said.
"He wanted parole and he's happy to be returned to South Africa."
No further effort to fight the deportation order was planned, after his latest bid was quashed by the Associate Immigration Minister.
Bouwer maintained his innocence of murder, although he accepted he was responsible for the death of his wife, Annette.
"Essentially, assisted suicide is his position," Mr More said.
Earlier Bouwer had signalled his intention to appeal the murder conviction to the Privy Council, but he no longer had any appetite for that fight, Mr More said.
Bouwer was jailed in 2001 after being found guilty of administering a fatal combination of sedatives and hypoglycaemia-inducing drugs to his wife for months. The drugs mimicked the symptoms of a rare tumour.
Bouwer was jailed with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years. That was increased to 15 years on appeal by the Crown.
He appeared before the board last Wednesday to argue his case for release.
The board's decision revealed Bouwer was a low-medium security prisoner, had a 10% of reoffending and had been taking antidepressants during recent months.
"The psychologist also commented on a diagnosis of stage 4 chronic kidney disease with a moderate deterioration in renal function over the past 12 months," the decision said.
"This was said to be managed in a conservative manner given Mr Bouwer's reasoning that it would be hypocritical, given that he ended his wife's life, to engage in more intensive life-prolonging intervention.
"During the psychological assessment, Mr Bouwer was said to have continued to maintain a belief that his wife was suffering from an undetected debilitating illness and that his actions in killing her had been a result of a prior agreement between him and his
wife that should either of them develop a terminal illness the other would assist the ending of life.
"However, in line with previous reports, Mr Bouwer had acknowledged that while he disagreed with official information, particularly relating to his motives in causing the death, he had intentionally taken his wife's life which he viewed as a criminal act.
In discussion with the psychologist Mr Bouwer had become tearful and expressed shame and guilt associated with his behaviour."
Once returned to South Africa, Bouwer would stay with family.
"In discussion with us, Mr Bouwer was challenged on his current stance in relation to the murder," the board said.
"It is fair to say that not all of his answers seemed compelling, but we were left in no doubt that he accepts responsibility for his actions and acknowledges that his actions were wrong.
"Looking at all of the information in front of us, we are satisfied that there is not undue risk to the community in South Africa given the nature of Mr Bouwers release proposals."
His parole conditions included a life-long ban from returning to New Zealand.
If travel arrangements returning him to South Africa can be made prior to October 11, he may be released earlier.
