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No right turn says once again the law means nothing.
Disposing of public records without authorisation is a crime. Destroying them to prevent their release under the OIA is an aggravating factor in that crime. But when push comes to shove, it seems that the Chief Archivist isn’t actually interested in enforcing the law:
Archives New Zealand has decided not to prosecute the former chairman of RNZ Richard Griffin over a voicemail left on his phone by former government minister Clare Curran a year ago.
Ms Curran called Mr Griffin after it was revealed he and the RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson had misled the committee over the nature of a meeting between the former head of news Carol Hirschfeld and Ms Curran.
In the voicemail, she urged Mr Griffin to write to the committee to correct the record as soon as possible but Mr Griffin took that to mean she would rather he wrote than turned up in person.
He subsequently refused to hand over the voicemail despite formal requests for it.
Chief Archivist Richard Foy said the matter did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
I guess it was all just too hard. But with this decision, the Chief Archivist has sent a clear message to Ministers and officials that its perfectly OK to illegally dispose of or even destroy public records to thwart an OIA request, and that they will face no penalty for doing so – undermining our entire system of transparency. And from the public servant responsible for protecting that system, that is simply unacceptable.
As for Griffin, with this sort of approach to public records and accountability to parliament, he is unfit to ever work in government again.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern receives giant Valentine card
Thursday, 14 February 2019, 3:03 pm
Press Release: SAFE For Animals
Three of Jacinda Ardern’s constituents and SAFE delivered a giant Valentine’s card to the Prime Minister’s Mt Albert electorate office this morning. Inside were hundreds of messages and signatures from caring Kiwis, all calling for Ms Ardern to have a heart for mother pigs this Valentine’s Day.
In New Zealand, thousands of mother pigs are confined in metal cages called farrowing crates for up to five weeks, from just before they give birth until their babies are weaned. This is repeated two to three times a year.
SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald says these Valentine’s messages reflect how strongly New Zealanders feel about this important animal welfare issue.
“A mother pig trapped in a farrowing crate is stripped of her ability to care for her piglets. At her most vulnerable time of motherhood, she desperately wants to protect and nurture her babies. Instead, she is trapped behind bars. She can’t build a nest for her piglets or even turn around,” says Ms Macdonald.
“This is no way to treat a mother. A mother pig wants to love her piglets and keep them safe. It’s only right that we show pigs love in return and free them from cruel farrowing crates.”
“Hundreds of Kiwis have signed this card asking Jacinda to show compassion for mother pigs and end their suffering in farrowing crates.”
Last year SAFE delivered a petition containing 122,844 signatures to Parliament demanding a ban on farrowing crates, which the Primary Production Select Committee has since taken submissions on. Ms Ardern has remained silent on the subject since being elected.
Yesterday SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association announced they had filed legal proceedings against the Government for their failure to ban farrowing crates.
“The Prime Minister stated when she was sworn in that she wants to transcend politics and bring kindness back to Government. It’s time that kindness was extended to mother pigs,” says Ms Macdonald.
Source Scoop news.
Did the card have a pig with lipstick on it?
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