law

Categories under law

NRT: Pissing on the rule of law

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, September 20th, 2011 - 137 comments

NRT: “The Supreme Court ruled that covert video surveillance evidence against the Urewera 18 was inadmissible, because it had been obtained unlawfully. This was no surprise to the police; they had known that the use of such surveillance was unlawful, but had gone ahead and done it anyway.” Now, the government’s changing the law for them.

Ecocide

Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, September 9th, 2011 - 64 comments

If a corporation can have the legal rights of a person, why can’t the environment can’t have the legal protections of a person too?

Why an apology should be delivered to the Urewera 18

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, September 8th, 2011 - 22 comments

Four years ago we were told tales about military style training camps, terrorism, Molotov Cocktails, firearms etc. Police laid charges and put people’s lives through hell. Now, four years later, they can’t prove any of it. If you or I were put through what they were put through we’d expect, and deserve, an apology. Why should it be any different for them?

Please stop the police from using punishment before conviction!

Written By: - Date published: 1:54 pm, September 6th, 2011 - 42 comments

The “Urewera 18” are now down to four. The police persecution has now been dropped for eleven of those charged in the Operation 8 raids four and half years ago. Crown Solicitor Simon Moore said the effect of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the case – which is suppressed – was that there was […]

Happy anniversary Christchurch

Written By: - Date published: 6:49 am, September 5th, 2011 - 56 comments

“Happy” anniversary Christchurch.  And with it comes a broken promise, and an interesting legal decision.

Crushless Collins

Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, August 26th, 2011 - 16 comments

Democracy at its finest

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, August 22nd, 2011 - 24 comments

Seems like Key isn’t interested in listening to Christchurch quake victims.

Inciting a riot

Written By: - Date published: 11:20 am, August 18th, 2011 - 46 comments

Cases being tried in England raise the question – what is an appropriate punishment for inciting a riot on Facebook?

Let he who is without sin….

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, August 4th, 2011 - 17 comments

It’s gotcha season in Parliament. First Labour was pulled up for a couple of election ads not having authorisation statements or not having big enough ones. Then Labour responded with unauthorised ads from National. Now, The Jackel has been told an unauthorised letter sent by Key to every pensioner is an electoral ad.

Kick boot camps to the curb

Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, July 21st, 2011 - 22 comments

Boot camps are a failure. $36K per head. 15 of 17 in the first two groups have reoffended already. That’s a worse recividism rate than prison. Even on dubious assumptions that the other 2 would have reoffended without boot camp and actually haven’t, that’s $612,000 to stop 2 offenders. Time for National to admit failure and stop wasting our money.

1981 Molesworth St commemoration

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, July 12th, 2011 - 14 comments

I was in the middle of the scrum on Molesworth Street on the night of July 29th 1981 when marchers were batoned by the police. A front-rowers’ collective has organised a 30-year anniversary commemoration at the Loaves and Fishes for Friday 29 July, and invite others to join them for a night of reminiscing and celebrating. Tickets are $15 to cover costs. If you would like to attend contact Paul Tolich 0275 935595 or Sue Ryall 021 380 176.

We All Have Our Vices

Written By: - Date published: 11:13 am, June 30th, 2011 - 31 comments

Yesterday, Dakta Green was sentenced to 8 months prison on drugs charges arising from The Daktory cannabis ‘dispensary’ that operated openly for 2 years in West Auckland. But what harm was caused to justify denying a man his freedom at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars to the taxpayer? More harm than other small vices?

Operation 8 documentary

Written By: - Date published: 2:48 pm, May 27th, 2011 - 17 comments

I have been bemoaning that I’d missed the Operation 8 documentary. But there are more screenings around the country. Catch a showing near you because by the sound of the current state of the court case, this will not be resolved until next year at the earliest. It has been over three and half years […]

Nats attacks legal aid but pays a million to defend itself

Written By: - Date published: 2:37 pm, April 30th, 2011 - 11 comments

Legal aid and your rights if accused of a crime are under attack by the National Government yet at the same time, as Michael Bott, explains it has spent a fortune in court trying to defend its practice of discriminating against carers who are related to the disabled people they care for. More disgusting choices from National.

Police planning to screw up again

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, April 28th, 2011 - 6 comments

Morgan Godfery at Maui Street blog is reporting that the police are preparing to raid Te Whanau a Apanui for protesting against the Petrobas geological survey. The police have to be crazy to think that they can do another raid like the one in 2007. What are they looking for this time? More 0.22″ rounds?

Leave The Family Court Alone

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, April 20th, 2011 - 39 comments

The Family Court as far as I’m concerned is the only court that tries to act as the gate before the cliff, rather than the grave digger at the bottom. The costs to society both directly and in loss of potential can be astronomical when taken over a persons entire lifetime of not handling the family issues clearly and decisively. So why does Simon Power want to fiddle with it? Apparently to forestall urban myths which does seem to be his sole political ability.

Tilting at drugmules

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, April 20th, 2011 - 33 comments

Rex Widerstrom has been a commentator and occassional guest poster here for a while. He has a unique point of view on the political process and its place in society. In this guest post he looks at the never ending “War on Drugs”.

Operation 8: Deep in the Forest

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 pm, April 19th, 2011 - 15 comments

Last night walking into the film screening in Auckland I was a bit apprehensive about how it would all be put together. Fortunately my fears were unfounded and the film did justice to the complex issues involved.

Appealing

Written By: - Date published: 4:47 pm, April 19th, 2011 - 3 comments

No Right Turn put up a post on the latest in the police foulup that is Operation 8.

According to Stuff, the Urewera 18 are seeking leave to appeal the decision to deny them a jury trial to the Supreme Court. Good. Trial by jury is a fundamental right

Boiling the frog

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, April 15th, 2011 - 62 comments

There are many significant changes to our legal and democratic rights that are going on under this National government.  Each on its own might look like a small thing, but collectively they add up to a major erosion of our freedom.

Some are more equal than others

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, April 14th, 2011 - 41 comments

Next time some righties are protesting in Queen St, will the government call out an army LAV to clear a path for my car so I can go about my lawful business without being blocked by protesters? Or do only foreign multinationals have this government at their beck and call?

F*ck the police

Written By: - Date published: 11:17 am, April 12th, 2011 - 161 comments

Tiki Taane arrested for singing NWA’s classic ‘F*ck the police’ when there were cops at his gig. Disorderly conduct likely to incite violence, says the Old Bill. Yeah, right. Here’s how this will play out: It’ll be laughed out of court. Collins will rush through new restrictions on our rights to ‘back the police’. O’Connor will renew call for cops to be armed.

From the pen of Fran O’Sullivan

Written By: - Date published: 12:25 pm, April 3rd, 2011 - 21 comments

Jenny reacts to Fran O’Sullivan’s latest article: “It seems the stench of the decision to remove the right to a jury trial from those arrested in the ‘Terror Raids’ has even risen into the nostrils of usually conservative members of the intelligentsia.” [conservative intelligentsia – there’s a shallow pool. Ed]

No jury of their peers

Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, March 30th, 2011 - 55 comments

Given the controversy surrounding the 2007 Urewera raids, the legal system should be bending over backwards to conduct a process that is above reproach.  Instead, they are doing the exact opposite.

Lhaws’ lhabours lhost

Written By: - Date published: 12:14 am, March 4th, 2011 - 101 comments

Michael Lhaws has done more to hurt ethnic relations in this country than, arguably, anyone else in the past decade. He chose the most racially divided city in the land and cynically exploited those divisions to get the attention his pathetic ego craves. Now, one of his greatest ‘achievements’ has been ruled illegal.

Compare and contrast

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, February 19th, 2011 - 54 comments

Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn compares the bailout of SCF investors with the Nats’ threat to change the law to deny some workers the minimum wage.

1951

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, January 19th, 2011 - 74 comments

In 1951, New Zealand temporarily became a police state. Civil liberties were curtailed, freedom of speech denied, and the Government used force against its own citizens. This film tells the story of the infamous lockout of waterside workers and the nationwide strike which followed. The film won Best Documentary and John Bates was named Best Director, Documentary, at the 2002 New Zealand Television Awards.

Ministerial review: law & order

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 pm, January 4th, 2011 - 91 comments

A few of us have chipped in to review the performances of the government in major areas. We’re looking at whether the facts back up the promises that National made to get elected. Let’s have a look at crime/law & order. Rightwing governments are always big on scaring the middle-class about crims and promising solutions. Has National delivered?

Unsuppressed: Urewera 18 to be denied jury trial

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 pm, December 26th, 2010 - 71 comments

No Right Turn says:-

Two weeks ago, I vented my spleen about a suppression order in a major upcoming criminal case of significant public interest. The suppression order has now been varied, so I am allowed to report on the outcome of the judgement: that the accused in the Urewera “terrorism” case will be denied a jury trial, and tried before a judge alone.

Abomination becomes law

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 9th, 2010 - 45 comments

Paul Quinn’s appalling Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act passed last night with the support of just two parties – ACT and National. We’ve talked about why this law is so bad in the past. The Attorney-General agreed it is an unjustified breach of our human rights. Why did ACT, the supposed ‘Liberal Party’ vote for it?

Collins to Police: keep on killing

Written By: - Date published: 1:18 pm, December 7th, 2010 - 40 comments

19 dead in Police chases in 12 months. You’re more likely to be killed in a police chase than by being shot. Most of the dead were being chased for minor traffic offences. What a waste of life. Collins’ response: harsher sentences. Cause tougher sentences has brought down crime so far, eh? Nats have no ideas. The death toll mounts.