12 March 2002
The Government's turning a blind eye to justice in small towns with its push to close or downgrade 13 courthouses
around the country, says National's Associate Regional Development spokesman, Shane Ardern.
"The anger and disbelief of many small communities has been highlighted by the presentation of a 9000-signature petition
to Parliament today, calling for the Rangiora courthouse to be kept open.
"Regional Development Minister, Jim Anderton, travels the country trumpeting the regional development cause, but he's
unfazed that axing courthouse services will deny nearly a quarter of a million New Zealanders reasonable access to
justice.
"The community consultation process is a sham. Meetings organised by the Corrections Department have been poorly
advertised and interested groups have been left out. The Government's just hellbent on ramming these changes through.
"Even the proposed cost savings are a farce. I've been told that downgrading courthouses to hearing centres will save
around $30-40 thousand per centre. But this will quickly disappear as police, JP's and corrections staff rack up travel
and other related costs associated with not having a local courthouse in the town," says Mr Ardern.
Ends