14 October 2004

Reduce Court Fees Now Says NZ First

New Zealand First justice spokesperson Dail Jones agrees with the Law Society’s claims that a massive rise in court costs is preventing people from their right to a fair hearing because they cannot afford to take their case to court.

“Access to justice for all is the hallmark of a civilised society. The Labour Party’s policy is prohibiting access to justice and is reducing the New Zealand justice system to the level of some poorer third world countries,” Mr Jones said.

“A vibrant commercial sector can only operate successfully if people who breach contracts know they can be sued readily.

“Labour’s present system supports defaulters and people acting in bad faith by raising court fees to such an extent that ordinary, law-abiding citizens can’t access the court system.

“It is obvious that a reduction in court fees is necessary to allow court access to everybody, not just for the wealthy and for those on legal aid,” Mr Jones concluded.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Audrey Young in the NZ Herald has compiled a useful list of the many ways Christopher Luxon plans to roll back the progress made in race relations over the past forty years. He has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. More