Uncategorized
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The New Face of Corruption in New Zealand
Corruption comes in many forms. The local bureaucrat who requires a bribe to award a contract, a judge who abuses her position to protect a partner or mate or a government watchdog who ignores known corruption while trying to convince the public the corruption covered up does not exist. We now know Sir Justice Hugh Williams bragged to his mistresses about cases he threw in favour of his mates. What we shudder to consider is such conduct may constitute judicial street cred in New Zealand. Williams’ history did not derail his current appointment as President of the Electoral Commission after retirement. Quite possibly, it assisted him, as the Old Boys knew he could be counted on to deliver. Meet Bryce Edwards, a […]
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NZ JUDGES THWART COURT TRANSPARENCY
The final note from Parliament’s Hansard report last week punctuated the win for judges and loss for New Zealand’s law abiding citizenry; “debate interrupted”. The issue is the mortally-wounded Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill which its sponsor Dr Kennedy Graham told kiwisfirst in 2011 had considerable support in Parliament. The reporter suggested to Graham support might be equal among the public but none of this would prevent the judge cartel in New Zealand from killing the Bill. Early on, few informed souls expected the Bill to get by Attorney General Chris Finlayson. Clever Chris instead welcomed the Bill, then turned it over to the Law Commission which proceeded to turn the inquisition on judicial transparency into a forum […]
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Selling Justice Goes on Trial
SELLING JUSTICE GOES ON TRIAL After years of New Zealand courts preventing hundreds if not thousands of similar appeals on “well-established” legal principles, the Supreme Court has granted leave to a prisoner who claims his right of appeal to the Court of Appeal has been unduly prevented by imposition of unaffordable security for costs. ‘Security for costs’ is a regime which requires poor litigants pay into court the anticipated legal costs of their adversary before the New Zealand courts will consider their legal claim. Most countries prohibit the practice as a draconian restraint on access to justice. Ironically, the NZ Court of Appeal which imposed the order in this case, and against many others who then sought challenge to the Supreme Court, […]
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Viewers have their say
POLICE AND GOVERNMENT MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ‘RULE OF LAW’ 24 September 2011 by Penny Bright If there are two groups of people who citizens should expect to follow the ‘RULE OF LAW’ - then surely they are the police and judges. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.” It is NOT ok in a supposedly ‘free and democratic’ society - for NZ Police or Judges to act unlawfully - then get the Government to pass retrospective legislation to […]
