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Statement On Guilty Plea

Together with other New Zealanders, today the Royal Commission learned that the man accused of the Christchurch mosque attacks has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and a charge of engaging in a terrorist act, and has been convicted of those offences.

The Terms of Reference are clear; the Royal Commission cannot inquire into the guilt or innocence of any individual charged in relation to the attack. That is not our role.

For this reason, today’s developments do not directly impact the Royal Commission’s inquiry process. It is however, hugely significant for families and survivors who will now be absorbing this news.

The current Covid-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions that all New Zealanders now face, are also having a significant impact on the inquiry. Staff are committed to getting the job done and continue to work from home, but there are some aspects of our work that cannot be managed remotely.

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out - for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool, or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. Yet when Luxon (and senior MP Chris Bishop) tried to defend the indefensible with the same wildly inaccurate claim, there are not a lot of positive explanations left on the table.... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

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