HAGAMAN AND HAGAMAN v LITTLE [2017] NZHC 813 [28 April 2017]
IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND
WELLINGTON REGISTRY
CIV-2016-485-414
[2017] NZHC 813
BETWEEN
EARL RAYMOND HAGAMAN AND LIANNA-MERIE HAGAMAN
Plaintiffs
AND
ANDREW JAMES LITTLE
Defendant
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF CLARK J
I direct that the delivery time of this judgment is
4:45 pm on the 28th day of April 2017
Introduction
[1] Mr ER Hagaman, the first-named plaintiff, is a company director of a number of companies within the Scenic Hotel
Group of companies. Together with his wife, Mrs L Hagaman the second-named plaintiff, he holds a controlling interest in
the shareholdings of those companies through trusts of which they are trustees or beneficiaries. The defendant, Mr A J
Little, is a Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition.
[2] In April 2016, on six occasions, Mr Little commented critically on the award of a hotel management contract to the
Scenic Hotel Group following the donation by Mr Hagaman of more than $100,000 to the National Party. The plaintiffs
filed proceedings based on statements made by Mr Little on those six occasions and claimed damages for defamation.
[3] In the course of the trial I ruled that the six occasions on which the publications were made were occasions of
qualified privilege. My reasons were to follow and are now provided in this judgment.
Full judgement: Hagaman_and_Hagaman_v_Little.pdf