http://www.Kiwisfirst.com/rss/ Kiwis First News AUCKLAND JUDGE JUDY POTTER ABORTS TRIAL TO TAKE HOLIDAY. Powerful QC called her "An embarrassment to the Court". 27 March 2008 New evidence is coming to light over Auckland High Court Judge Judy Potter aborting a multiple defendant criminal trial lat week so that her six-week South American Holiday was not delayed. Seven days into the expected ten-day ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732561 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST NEW ZEALAND vs THE INTERNET 23 December 2009         In a speech to an R v Internet seminar sponsored by the Law Commission earlier this month, NZ Solicitor General David Collins suggested informal international law enforcement arrangements and "international treaties" be sought to combat internet publishers who do not abide by government suppression orders.              Collins admitted to undertaking "3-4" contempt prosecutions against ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732812 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST APARTHEID LAWYER APPOINTED ETHICS HEAD OF NEW ZEALAND LAW SOCIETY 21 December 2009 Lawyer Lapa Lauscher is now the Professional Standards Director for the New Zealand Law Society.  Laubcher was PW Botha's former lawyer.  Botha was the last bastion of apartheid in South Africa as President until 1989.  Lauscher advised Botha not to testify at the subsequent Truth and Reconclilation Commission.  He then emigrated to New Zealand where he has been ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732813 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST THE RIGHT TO KNOW - when slience threatens justice The Story of New Zealand Writer Anne Hunt.   dateline: 1 May 2008 Steven Price, who wrote Media Minefield (a journalists' guide to media regulation in New Zealand) says he thinks he's right in saying Anne Hunt's book, Broken Silence, is the only book ever to be banned and ordered to be pulped by NZ's High Court. A stay of execution was required to prevent the ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732569 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EST DEATH AND GREED ON MATAKANA ISLAND, dateline 14 February 2008 You get a feeling things are bad when, within 5 days of a man being found incinerated in the back seat of his car, the car crudely parked on an isolated road, the police investigator is claiming suicide. The empty petrol container allegedly used to create the inferno is found tucked away in the closed boot of the car. The police surmised the man poured petrol over himself and his backseat before tidying up enough to ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732554 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST What happens when you are the highest legal official in the country and, in your first year in office, you create an international incident, file two Crown legal actions that ignore basic laws and use your public office to prosecute your political opponents? If you are the NZ Solicitor General David Collins (left), you get a pay raise. Now that the United Nations ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732555 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST NEED BETTER WORK STORIES? 28 February 2008 The twelve Police detectives who laid siege to the Gulf Harbour home of Vince and Jane Siemer at 7.00 am Thursday morning 21st Feb 2008 can add the intimate details they learned of this family's personal lives to their Friday nights out on the ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732557 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST AUCKLAND CITY DREDGES THROUGH COUNCIL DIVISIONS 7 March 2008 There is a new guard in charge of Auckland City Council. They are a fierce and determined bunch. In a spirited "Combined Committees" session on Wednesday 5 March, fights over money and politics created banter bordering on a verbal brawl. In the early going, long-time City Vision Counselor Cathy Casey passionately attacked a C&R sponsored motion which would put current ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732558 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST Deterioration of Police Standards Plagues New Zealand Force Dateline: 10 March 2008 Less than a generation ago the New Zealand Police endeavoured to increase the quality of its ranks by recruiting more educated and morally conscious constables. The impetus in thought was that moral and educated cops make moral and educated decisions. The consequent recruit-marketing stressed honour, as well as pride in accomplishment. http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732559 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST JUDGE LANCE’S WRATH 27 April 2009 Judge Michael Lance QC (left) is under criminal investigation for allegedly vandalising the car of Auckland businessman Richard Cummins.  The incident happened on 23 March 2009 in front of the Judge’s apartment block in Browns Bay, Auckland.  The crime was witnessed by two patrons at a ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732570 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST STRATFORD RACING CLUB MEMBERSHIP DECIDED BY COURT OF APPEAL 20 May 2008     by  Vincent Middeldorp In the recent Zimbabwe elections, ballot boxes were brought into police headquarters in the capital Harare where ballot papers for Robert Mugabe were added and ballots for Morgan Tsvangirai removed.  Two weeks later in New Zealand, the Court of Appeal condoned a much better system for rigging election outcomes; albeit not for the Presidency of the ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732571 Mon, 19 May 2008 06:00:00 EST $62 Million New Annual Budget for Auckland Consultants 21 May 2008  In an Official Information Act response to Water Pressure Group Spokesperson Penny Bright received last week, Auckland City Council revealed previously undisclosed data on the City's financial expenditures and structure.  Among other things, it disclosed a budgeted $62 Million for 'external experts and specialist advisors' in the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  Of this figure, $45 million is earmarked ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732572 Tue, 20 May 2008 06:00:00 EST The Vanishing Jury 16 June 2008  No, it is not a John Grisham novel.  It is the upshot of higher court rulings in New Zealand today.    Civil jury trials have, for all practical purposes, been done away with in New Zealand.  The last known case of trial by jury was Menzies v Attorney General (CIV2002 418 00005) in late 2004.  The shift away from juries has occurred without any law change.  Rather, it has evolved quietly, by judicial ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732573 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST New Zealand Solicitor General Testifies No Unlawful Orders Occur in New Zealand 18 June 2008 Testifying before a two judge panel in the Auckland High Court contempt trial of Vince Siemer on Monday, Solicitor General David Collins was not pleased.  His terse answers revealed much about the man, as well as his motivation in bringing the contempt action against Mr Siemer for operating this website.  Mr Collins has alleged that comments relating to Mr Stiassny on ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732574 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST NOT ON MY WATCH 25 June 2008 Former Police Prosecutor Grace Haden is making a name for herself as a private investigator and it may prove more valuable to society than her former police role.  In the process she is learning quite a lot first hand and up close regarding the inner workings of the civil justice system.  It is fair to say that it is not all pleasant and, at times, disturbing.  Perhaps the biggest adjustment for Mrs. Haden is that she now ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732575 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST ROYAL COMMISSION OF PAIN 23 July 2008  This year is proving to be an inauspicious one for the Auckland City Council and its well-paid allies (read 'contractors').  The Royal Commission of Inquiry looking into governance practices by local Councils was, only a year ago, expected to be a mere formality designed to show the public that politicians and bureaucrats were not asleep at the switch when it came to the efficient spending of the public's hard-earned ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732576 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST DAVID COLLINS BEING CRIMINALLY INVESTIGATED BY NEW ZEALAND POLICE Dateline:25 August 2008; updated 1 September 2008 The New Zealand Police confirmed to kiwisfirst this week they are investigating New Zealand Solicitor General David Collins for criminal conduct under s111 of the Crimes Act, namely making a false declaration to the High Court in May ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732582 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST Bill Wilson's Private Appointment to Supreme Court a Lesson to Public 4 September 2008  "Friends of Bill W" is taking on a new meaning after the meteoric rise of Bill Wilson to the New Zealand Supreme Court bench this year.    Less than two years ago, Mr Wilson QC was sitting in his law office trying to figure out where his next paying client was coming from.  Not that Wilson needed the money.  His Rich ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732583 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST SOLICITOR GENERAL COLLINS MOCKS FAIR TRIALS AND PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW 16 September 2008 The first day of the Solicitor General's prosecution of the Dominion Post and its editor Tim Pankhurst for contempt in the Wellington High Court brought a moralizing sermon from the S-G himself.  David Collins decided to personally prosecute the Dominion Post's for publication ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732588 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST POLICE ON VERGE OF SECOND ENQUIRY INTO DAVID COLLINS 29 September 2008  A new police complaint against embattled New Zealand Solicitor General David Collins is being explored in relation to Mr Collins' recent attempts to prevent evidence of Judicial conflict of interest by current New Zealand Supreme Court Justice Bill Wilson from being brought before the Court.  Last year, Judge Wilson failed to ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732589 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST JUDGE COOPER'S RACIST INVECTIVE TAINTS HIGH COURT RULING   1 January 2008 Under cover of the Christmas Holiday, Auckland High Court Judge Mark Cooper (right) ruled that kiwisfirst editor Vince Siemer had defamed Auckland ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732609 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL INVISIBLE IN NEW ZEALAND 12 February 2009 In a 9 square metre closet next to the elevator shaft on the fourth floor of a former department store in Wellington resides an eight year old 'autonomous chapter' of the Berlin based http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732616 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST WHAT’S WORSE THAN BEATING A DEAD HORSE? 5 March 2009 Three  years  ago  former New Zealand police prosecutor and current private investigator Grace Haden, operating on a tip, questioned the subsistence of the Animal  Welfare  Institute  of  New  Zealand  (AWINZ ).  It was disclosed to Ms Haden that AWINZ was paid handsomely to lend its name to the movie credits of Lord of the Rings, attesting that no animals were harmed in ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732623 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST ASHER LATEST JUDGE TO CONTRAVENE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 2005   8 March 2009 Auckland High Court Judge Raynor Asher (pictured left in a 10 year old photo) has refused to provide a record of proceedings involving public watchdog Penny ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732624 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST VECTOR TO SELL ASSETS TO PAY DOWN DEBT 19 April 2008 Vector is currently in a race to sell off its 'gold plated' Wellington to Auckland transmission lines to pay down its burgeoning debt.  The only purchase interest in this strategic infrastructure appears to be coming from off-shore.  Australian and Chinese investors have reported to be in the running.  Potential buyers have asked for more time to evaluate the investment prospect, effectively extending ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732568 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EST SHORT-HANDED SUPREME COURT TO HEAR BILL OF RIGHTS APPEAL 23 November 2009 A landmark case to define the rights of those accused of contempt, as well as legal limits on freedom of expression, is set for a two day hearing before the New Zealand Supreme Court on 9 December 2009.     Siemer v Solicitor General SC48/2009 will test ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732710 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST NEW ZEALAND SUPREME COURT LEGALISES DISCOVERY EVASION 21 May 2009  The New Zealand Supreme Court has dismissed a legal challenge to a 2004 Court rule change which exempts parties to litigation from discovery disclosure.  The full bench ruling SC 62/2008 [2008] NZSC 98 and 24 February 2009 (unpublished) endorsed the effect of this new rule allowing parties to avoid identifying their discovery documents.     http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732713 Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 EST Oops, HE DID IT AGAIN 8 June 2009  Now that the David Bain murder retrial has ended in the fashion those most informed with the case suspected, recriminations for the public waste of $4 million and valuable court resources have begun.  As with the 'Tuhoe terrorist' prosecution debacle in October 2007 and the Gwaze murder trial in May ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732750 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST NEW ZEALAND SUPREME COURT GUTS JUDGE DISCLOSURE LAW 6 July 2009 In an unprecedented judgment from the New Zealand Supreme Court Friday, the full court declared New Zealand Judges are not required to disclose their personal and business relationships with those who appear before them if it is not evident the Judges stand to personally ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732756 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST DRIVEN TO DESPAIR 10 August 2009 It is a nightmare from which she cannot awaken.  When her husband died in January 1985, Southlander Nancy Trevathan's grief was softened by a caring lawyer who would assist her in the legalities of the estate.  There were assets to sort out, but there were bills as well.  Two properties needed to be maintained through the process.  What followed was ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732764 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOLDS UNDER CROWN LAW PRESSURE 10 August 2009   The Soviet dissident Alexandre Solzenitsyn once spoke of the Russian people "We did not care enough about freedom.  In the end we got what we deserved."  It is an ominous warning for New Zealanders since we lost the right to appeal to the Privy Council.  This was made all the more evident last week after the New Zealand Human Rights Commission bowed to Crown Law and Supreme ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732765 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST COURT OF APPEAL PRESIDENT'S ' QUID PRO QUO' WITH VECTOR CHAIRMAN DISHONOURS COURT 15 September 2009 Add one more reason to why power bills are skyrocketing.  A well-placed source has come forward with information that Court of Appeal President William Young (pictured) took what ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732776 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST MADMEN AT CROWN TAKE THRONE 12 October 2009 This is foremost a story of widespread breach of public trust and abuse of office by the head of Crown Law in New Zealand.  While far from a unique story of officials in power, the evidence in Solicitor General David Collins' case displays a pattern of criminal behavior over many years.  Two thoughts ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732784 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST SHORT-HANDED SUPREME COURT TO HEAR BILL OF RIGHTS APPEAL 23 November 2009 A landmark case to define the rights of those accused of contempt, as well as legal limits on freedom of expression, is set for a two day hearing before the New Zealand Supreme Court on 9 December 2009.     Siemer v Solicitor General SC48/2009 will test ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732805 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST   HORSE THIEVERY 17 December 2009  It has been a running joke for years that the top qualification for judge in New Zealand is to own racehorses.  But it is no longer a laughing matter.   The incest and patronage which dominates  the New Zealand Court is making a travesty of the entire justice system since it has been exposed http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732809 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST HIGH COURT THROWS OUT SEARCH WARRANTS IN "TERRORIST" RAIDS 17 September 2009 In a monumental Court decision, Judge Helen Winkelmann of the Auckland High Court last week threw out 6 of the 9 land search warrants authorised by the Court in the "Tuhoe Terrorist" ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732777 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST FINLAYSON'S FOLLY 9 November 2009  Even for the dicey New Zealand legal community, the current chicanery surrounding the recall of Supreme Court Judge Bill Wilson's decision in Saxmere v the Wool Board for failure to disclose a conflict of interest is getting, as Alice would say, "curiouser and curiouser".    This ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732792 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST HOW NZ COURT OF APPEAL SELLS JUSTICE 1 June 2009  Wellington man Benjamin Easton spends most of his days helping others to appeal unjust decisions by New Zealand Judges, researching law and observing the workings of Parliament from the gallery.  He calls himself “the Political Busker.”  He lives off an unemployment benefit and support of a few friends as he works tirelessly at exposing, and attempting to correct, the injustices which, in some ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732718 Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 EST IS JUDGE LANCE'S 15 YEAR OFFENDING SPREE OVER? 8 September 2009  The proven extortionist was acquitted, allowed to keep his law license and given permanent name suppression by New Zealand Judge Michael Lance QC.   The Deputy Solicitor-General refused a formal Official Information Act request for the investigation ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732771 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST SPINNING THE WEBB  - HOW THE LEGAL COMPLAINTS REVIEW OFFICER COVERS UP CORRUPTION 18 February 2010 The Lawyers and Conyancers Act 2006 replaced the Lay Observer in favour of a new Crown position of "Legal Complaints Review Officer".  Parliament decreed the position was not to be held by a lawyer.  This was to ensure the public an unbiased review of their complaints against lawyers to the New Zealand Law Society.  Still, the ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732820 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST LOSS OF HONOUR   11 April 2009    (4 minute read) In the wake of World War II, American Justice Robert Jackson famously reflected "It is not the function of Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error."  This was not considered a revelation so much as a reminder.  For example, ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732691 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST WHISTLE-BLOWING GREATER CRIME THAN NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE ACCORDING TO NZ JUDGES 21 March 2009 How out of touch are New Zealand Judges?  Consider the contrasting cases of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre tragedy resulting in the deaths of 7 people against three recent cases of whistle-blowing by conscientious New Zealand citizens.   Yesterday, an Auckland District ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732681 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST IAN HAYNES RESIGNS AS JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSIONER Breaking news - 20 July 2009 The New Zealand Judicial Conduct Commissioner Ian Haynes abruptly resigned last week after 4 years in the post.  Mr Haynes was appointed the country's first Judicial Conduct Commissioner for a three year term in 2005, but stayed on after his term expired.  His resignation comes as a ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732761 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL NEW ZEALAND ORDERS ARREST OF ANTI-CORRUPTION ADVOCATE 11 December 2009  In a stinging irony - on United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day no less - Chairman Gerald McGhie of Transparency International's "autonomous" New Zealand chapter ordered Police to arrest public watchdog Penny Bright for ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732808 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST GLEESON UPSTAGED BY NEW JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSIONER MANEUVERING 21 February 2010   The maneuvering behind the scenes in the drawn out Judge Bill Wilson scandal seems as frenetic as the cloak of secrecy over the actual investigation is thick.  Now, ... http://www.kiwisfirst.com/news.asp?pageID=2145848073&RefID=2141732823 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST