Ewen Macdonald's life after jail will likely begin in the south as details of his parole conditions show he will be forbidden from entering the North Island.

Macdonald was paroled on Friday at his fourth hearing.

In 2012 Macdonald was acquitted of killing Feilding farmer Scott Guy but he has been serving a five-year sentence at Rolleston Prison for six other offences, including vandalism of property and killing 19 calves.

He was found not guilty of killing his brother-in-law after a highly publicised trial.

This week's Parole Board hearing was his fourth since his imprisonment but unlike previous appearances, the hearing was closed to media.

As well as being prohibited from going to the North Island, Macdonald will be electronically monitored, and forbidden from possessing and using firearms.

Scott Guy's father said on Friday that Macdonald's betrayal could never be forgiven.

Bryan Guy, Scott's father, said he had expected Macdonald to get parole this time, as he had served most of his prison term.

The family was pleased he was declined parole in 2014, as "he has had a few issues to deal with".

Scott Guy's parents Bryan and Jo Guy.

Reports provided to the board for Macdonald's 2014 hearing said he had a "significant personality disturbance" and "narcissistic" personality traits.

It had been a difficult time leading up to the hearing, Guy said.

"We have always known this day was going to happen.

"You put it in the back of your mind and don't necessarily worry about it."

There was no contact between him and Macdonald, and he expected that arrangement to continue.

"Because of the betrayal that he did against us and others, he is really not part of our lives anymore.

"You will never be able to forget about it.

"There is no trust there, and unlikely to be."

Ewen Macdonald was acquitted of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy, pictured.

The family were focused on doing what they could for the children of Macdonald and Anna Guy.

"We will help the children grow up with good values - looking out for each other, honesty, telling the truth.

I just...want to get on with our lives and focus on the positive things rather than focus on the negatives."

FROM THE ARCHIVE:

* Ewen Macdonald's early release decision reserved

* Guy farm up for sale as succession plans 'all changed'

* 'Our family could have been just another tragedy'

* Scott Guy murder: Five years later his family has 'learnt a lot about resilience'

* Anna Guy: Five years without Scott

* Kylee Guy calls of hunt for Scott's killer

* Kylee Guy's private investigation looked at wrong person - lawyer

* Ewen MacDonald released from jail for farm work

* Scott Guy's widow give birth to boy

* Scott Guy case: The timeline

* Feilding has job of moving on

* Ewen MacDonald found not guilty

* Scott Guy murder trial in summary

Scott Guy's wife, Kylee Guy, was pregnant at the time of his death and later gave birth to a son.

The crimes Macdonald was imprisoned for included poaching trophy stags from Colyton farmer Craig Hocken.

Hocken said he was not surprised at the Parole Board's decision.

"He only had another six months anyway, so he would be home for Christmas."

He noted the board had banned Macdonald from firearms, but not from other weapons like crossbows.

"A lot of people do hunting with those."

He knew of no attempts by Macdonald to say sorry, and was not interested in an apology.

"What is done is done and it's not going to be bringing anything back.

"He can get on with his life and we can get on with ours."

The North Island ban was a good way to stop him from bumping into people who would not want to see him, Hocken said.

"He will get back to work down there [in the South Island], start a new life and people won't be worried about him walking around the corner.

"It is good for the [Guy] family to get it done and dusted and get back to some sort of normality."

Macdonald was denied an early release from prison in November last year because he had not yet addressed underlying personality traits which caused him to offend, the Parole Board said.

He has been in jail since April 2011, when he was arrested for Guy's murder.

He denied the July 2010 murder but pleaded guilty to six other charges at the time, which included two charges of arson, three of intentional damage and one of theft of animals.

His crimes involved burning down an old house on Scott Guy's property and vandalising his new home, as well as crimes on other Manawatu farms that involved killing deer, destroying milk and bashing 19 calves to death with a hammer.

He was due to be released from jail on April 6, 2016, having been denied parole on several occasions. The Parole Board last saw him on November 17 and felt he needed ongoing psychological intervention and support before being released.

NO UNDUE RISK TO COMMUNITY

On Friday, the Parole Board said it was now satisfied that Macdonald, 35, would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community.

"There is clear evidence that he has been endeavouring to change his behaviour, and to react to early warning signs that he is reverting to old behaviours," the board said.

"He has sought other's views and tried to reflect on the consequences of his actions on them. He has asked for advice, which previously he found difficult to do, and he has practiced letting things go rather than holding grudges and ruminating about perceived wrongs."

Importantly, the board said Macdonald had also begun to share his feelings of frustration and sadness with others in prison, and with members of his family.

"He has a strong group of supporters. As well as family and friends, who have always been there for him."

The board said Macdonald had approved accommodation, as well as employment and a sensible release plan in place.

The board considered whether he should also be forbidden from having any contact with animals, unless under the direct supervision of an approved adult, but decided this would be too difficult to enforce.

NOVEMBER RELEASE DATE

Macdonald will be released from jail on an undisclosed date in November.

For the first six months of his release, he will be subject to further conditions, including psychological testing, an overnight curfew and to not have any contact with any victim of his offending, either directly or indirectly.

He will also be forbidden from communicating with former Guy family farmhand Callum Boe, who Macdonald committed many of his crimes with.