He 17 April 2004 Media Statement

PM responds to passport case

Prime Minister Helen Clark said today she was aware of a case in the Auckland District Court related to an attempt to fraudulently obtain a New Zealand passport.

Helen Clark said court action was still under way and accordingly the government was constrained in what it could say.

“I will not make any comment which might jeopardise the case before the court.

“The government takes seriously any action which challenges the integrity of the New Zealand passport system.

“The public can be assured that the government will act to protect the reputation of the New Zealand passport.

“The people involved in this case are Israeli citizens and the matter has been raised directly with the Israeli government, but I am not able to make further comment.

“There will be a strong and public response to this matter once the court action has concluded, “Helen Clark said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>