Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

'Anywhere but here'


Media Release

'Anywhere but here'

The Howard League has today expressed its dismay over the Whanganui District Council's unanimous resolution to coordinate a community "shunning/trespass" of Stuart Murray Wilson – represented today by Cr. Ray Stevens’ efforts to get trespass notices issues against Wilson..

Howard League president, Paul O'Neill, said "the community has every right to demand that appropriate safeguards are in place before people like Mr Wilson are released into out communities, but, when experts are unanimous in saying that shunning and ostracising of such people exponentially increases the risk of re-offending it is simply a disgrace for Whanganui's civic leaders to unanimously resolve to co-ordinate just that”.

“Furthermore” O’Neill said, “It’s blatant hypocrisy”.

As prominent barrister, and Howard League member, Michael Bott recently pointed out, Lloyd McIntosh, arguably Whanganui’s worst sex offender currently resides in Christchurch on parole.

“I don’t see the Whanganui Council suggesting a swap”, said O’Neill

While the Howard League accepts that Whanganui’s leaders have every right to ask that sound release plans are in place for high risk offenders, O’Neill points out that Murray will be subject to perhaps the strictest conditions ever imposed on a parolee, and his extended supervision order is in effect tantamount to a 10 year extension of his sentence. He will also be constantly monitored.

O’Neill says that, “An ‘anywhere but here’ approach may serve the interests of local politicians but it is not in the best interests of New Zealand – and it is certainly a bit rich coming from a place quite willing to export their own problems”.

“We fully accept that his is not an easy situation, but the Whanganui Council are making it worse”.


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.