HAGAMAN AND HAGAMAN v LITTLE [2017] NZHC 813 [28 April 2017]

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON REGISTRY
CIV-2016-485-414

[2017] NZHC 813

BETWEEN
EARL RAYMOND HAGAMAN AND LIANNA-MERIE HAGAMAN
Plaintiffs

AND
ANDREW JAMES LITTLE
Defendant

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF CLARK J

I direct that the delivery time of this judgment is

4:45 pm on the 28th day of April 2017

Introduction

[1] Mr ER Hagaman, the first-named plaintiff, is a company director of a number of companies within the Scenic Hotel Group of companies. Together with his wife, Mrs L Hagaman the second-named plaintiff, he holds a controlling interest in the shareholdings of those companies through trusts of which they are trustees or beneficiaries. The defendant, Mr A J Little, is a Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition.

[2] In April 2016, on six occasions, Mr Little commented critically on the award of a hotel management contract to the Scenic Hotel Group following the donation by Mr Hagaman of more than $100,000 to the National Party. The plaintiffs filed proceedings based on statements made by Mr Little on those six occasions and claimed damages for defamation.

[3] In the course of the trial I ruled that the six occasions on which the publications were made were occasions of qualified privilege. My reasons were to follow and are now provided in this judgment.

Full judgment: Hagaman_and_Hagaman_v_Little.pdf

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