Jesse Daniel Nash, 43, was released from the Otago Corrections Facility last month, just over four years since his sentencing at the Dunedin District Court.
"The reasons given are that he wishes to complete his sentence in the public interest, and that he wants to be responsible and learn from the time he has spent in prison," panel convener Mary More said.
Nash had no release proposal and all the board could do was impose six months of conditions, which included a ban from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The March 2020 fiasco began in innocuous fashion when police tried to pull him over in Tarras following a petrol-station drive-off.
Nash, though, sped up to 180kmh and continued driving on his rims - sparks flying - after his vehicle was spiked.
Police pulled back from the chase, but Constable Darren Kidd chanced across the fugitive down a back road near the Cromwell Gorge.
Nash aimed a long-barrelled air rifle at the officer, prompting him to rush for cover among nearby trees.
With the police car idling, the defendant hopped into the driver’s seat and sped off.
Heading towards Alexandra, he pulled over a BMW, put on a police cap and ordered the bemused driver to get out.
The dangerous journey continued as Nash reached speeds of 200kmh on State Highway 8.
Police eventually spiked his tyres in Milton - 270km from where the pursuit began - but it was not enough to snare him.
He took refuge in an empty home and was only arrested the next day when he approached residents to try to arrange a ride away.
Nash later wrote to the Otago Daily Times to say the incident was "a whole lot of fun" and that it had been on his "bucket list".
Flying a helicopter was also one of his goals, he said.
His release conditions included:
• To live at an address approved by Probation.
• Not to possess alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
• To attend any treatment as directed.
• Not to possess any firearm or ammunition.
• Not to contact any victim of offending.
• To disclose to Probation changes in relationship status.
