High Court finds police raid on Nicky Hager was illegal
Wellington High Court judge Justice Clifford issued his judgement today on the legality of the police search of Nicky
Hager's home on 2 October 2014.
The judge found that the search was illegal. He said that the Police had failed to disclose relevant information to the
Judge who issued the warrant. As a result, he formally declared that the warrant was “fundamentally unlawful”. He also
found that the search was therefore unlawful. Justice Clifford also expressed concerns about other aspects of the
Police’s actions.
Mr Hager said he is very happy about the decision, for his family and because of the important principles it upholds.
"The heart of the case is the public's right to receive information about the actions of people in positions of
authority. This decision acknowledges that confidential sources used in investigative journalism, in this case my book
Dirty Politics, deserve legal protection."
More hearings will follow on other police actions taken against Mr Hager and on the subject of costs and damages. But Mr
Hager said this decision was the most important one, affecting all news media and also present and future whistle
blowers. "This decision is very good news for New Zealand journalism," he said.
Mr Hager thanked the large numbers of people who donated money to help cover court costs and the experts who wrote
affidavits supporting his case.
ENDS