Panoho pleased with outcome
Amokura Panoho has expressed her delight at the outcome of her successful court action against John Tamihere and Trevor
Mallard.
Last year the MPs made comments about Amokura Panoho through the media which were factually incorrect. Today they have
acknowledged in the Auckland District Court, by consent, that their statements were untrue.
“I’m pleased that John Tamihere and Trevor Mallard have acknowledged their statements were mistaken,” says Amokura
Panoho.
“Now that it has been made clear that there was nothing inappropriate in my actions, I am now looking forward to moving
on. My interest is and always has been in supporting Maori development and that is what I will continue to do.”
Under the court agreement the MPs have published the following schedule:
On 5 August 2004, in an interview on Morning Report the Honourable Trevor Mallard, Minister for State Services, made
certain remarks regarding the recent resignation of Amokura Panoho.
Later that day, Mr John Tamihere, then Associate Minister for Maori Affairs, issued a press release headed “Tamihere: No
double standards for Maori public servants” which contained remarks referring to Ms Panoho.
The following day, Mr Mallard withdrew his remarks.
In an interview on Morning Report on 6 August 2004, Mr Tamihere also withdrew his allegations against Ms Panoho.
In December 2004, Ms Panoho issued a proceeding in the District Court at Waitakere against both Mr Tamihere and Mr
Mallard seeking a recommendation that they publish a correction and pay her costs. By consent, the Court made a
recommendation under s. 26 of the Defamation Act 1992 that they publish the following correction (which they now do).
Ms Panoho did not use Labour Department equipment for the Maori Party hui held on 19 July 2004 at the Manurewa Marae, do
Maori Party business in the Department’s time or put pressure on Labour Department staff to attend the hui.
The statement formalises the retraction made by John Tamihere and Trevor Mallard last year.