Code Of Conduct Hearing Against Michael Laws

Friday, 11 March 2005,

Arrangements have just been announced for the hearing of four complainants by Wanganui citizens alleging breaches of Wanganui District Council’s Code of Conduct by mayor Michael Laws.

It is proposed that deputy mayor Dot McKinnon will chair a meeting of the Audit and Administration committee, acting as full council and starting at 2pm in the Pioneer Room, Memorial Hall, on Tuesday March 15.

Each of the complainants have protested strongly that this arrangement denies them the opportunity of a fair hearing and we believe it to be in breach of the Bill of Rights provisions covering such hearings.

We also say it is unacceptable to have been given just two working days notice of the hearing. We believe we will have about ten minutes each to present our cases against Laws though we have not yet been formally notified of details of the proposed procedure.

The council is using the Pioneer Room rather than the usual committee room at its Guyton St officers because it expects a big public turnout. We also expect this will be the case as this has aroused considerable public interest and is believed to be the first time citizens have brought charges like this against a mayor.

ENDS

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