The Water Pressure Group (Auckland)
PRESS RELEASE: 19 August 2004

Sack Judge who doesn't believe in 'fairness or reasonableness'!

Auckland District Court Judge Roderick Joyce Q.C. was told today, to his face, in his own Court room, that the Water Pressure Group (Auckland) had no confidence in him, and had lodged a Judicial Complaint to get him removed from the Bench.

"The whole jurisdiction of the Court system is in question," stated Water Pressure Group Media Spokesperson, Penny Bright.

"Until we have clarification from the Minister for Justice, Phil Goff, that Parliamentary statute law can over ride our sovereign, common law /human rights - we are withdrawing our Water Pressure Group cases from the Court."

A copy of the Judicial Complaint was handed to the Court Registrar, and the contingent of Water Pressure Group members and supporters then walked out.

"The fact that this same Judge Joyce, was set down to hear other cases involving Water Pressure Group members and Metrowater, when we had filed a Judicial Complaint to have him removed because we have no confidence in him - shows the incompetence of the Court system - incompetence for which the Minister for Courts, Rick Barker, must take ultimate responsibility.

Judge Joyce has ruled in his decision which triggered this Judicial Complaint:

"…….questions of reasonableness or fairness simply do not come into this."

"….if you want water and wastewater services from Metrowater then you must contract for them on their terms. Otherwise you risk going without."

How can the public have any confidence in a Judge who can make this sort of outlandish ruling?

"The last time Judge Joyce went head to head with members of the Water Pressure Group - over the famous 'Ike Finau signs' campaign - he, (and Auckland City Council) lost - spectacularly!

Ike's signs are still up.

An international legal precedent was set - the first time that there has ever been a 'stay' of an order of committal for contempt of Court - although Ike Finau was not legally represented and didn't even turn up to Court.

As a result of the 'Ike Finau signs case' - the Local Government Act 2002 was amended - in so doing - Parliament voted against the Government.

With this, another precedent - all parties apart from the ruling Labour Party supported an amendment that now requires Council bylaws to be consistent with the Bill of Rights Act 1990.

The Water Pressure Group now demands to know why Minister of Justice Phil Goff (whose Mt Roskill electorate office is across the road from Metrowater) is applying for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Committee when New Zealand law does not respect human rights."

- Penny Bright Media Spokesperson Water Pressure Group (Auckland) Ph (09) 846 9825

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