The embargo on the Waitangi Tribunal decision on prisoner voting has just expired.
We won on all arguments advanced as to why the ban must be repealed.
The Government must act now before our moral authority in international forums is further eroded. Decision here, feel free to share as widely as possible.
Waitangi Tribunal calls for urgent law change to allow prisoners to vote in 2020 election
The Waitangi Tribunal is urging the Government to overturn the prisoner voting ban, with a mind to empowering Māori.
Voting rights for New Zealand prisoners have varied significantly through history.
The most recent law change, enacted in 2010, removed their right to register and vote in elections.
In a letter sent to a handful of Labour MPs, deputy chairperson Judge Patrick Savage explained that current legislation didn’t comply with the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations and that urgent change was needed.
Arthur Taylor is TDBs Prisoner Rights blogger
Fair call Arthur Maori are marginalized in this country that they belong too. Now the bigots, centrist,right-wingers,conservative will spew the one law for all which is another excuse to exclude Maori values and beliefs and follow this homogenous system that is design to subjugate maori and the evidence is pulpable. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/108675NCJRS.pdf
Good on them. Its utterly disgraceful that prisoners should not have the right to vote like any New Zealander.Yet another test for this government. Let’s see yet again if they prove any better than the last.
With the 2010 law change,the National Government was suppressing a prison population of many thousands from voting and pretending to be tough on crime.
Given that the National party and it supporters are no strangers to criminal activities themselves,i cant see how they did this to punish prisoners.
In reality,every time a prisoner is released from prison without the proper rehabilitation and support networks,it is the general public who will pay the price in terms of the recidivist offending that is so common among former inmates.
This whole mindset of excluding the convicted from society needs to be reviewed.
The prisons should only be taking those who are too dangerous to be left out and about.
A good example would be those guys from the SAS who Nicky Hager and others have caught conducting unhelpful,illegal raids in our name,personal missions to avenge a fallen comrade.
They were supposed to be there fighting Terrorism,instead,we find that the SAS is itself a terrifying organisation in its own right,conducting secretive,illegal killings then lying about the circumstances and also handing over detainees to the CIA for rendition/murder.
If the SAS members can be caught murdering civilians and yet still have a right to vote,it doesn’t seem fair to strip the right from those who have committed far lesser offences.
It seems the Crown can issue ‘get out of jail cards’ for its loyal band of killers.
Its little wonder then that people are beginning to realise there is no place for the Crown in this country’s future.
Well if the criminals’ and con-artists that run Corporations are found guilty and not jailed for ’embezlement, cheating, extortion and other offences under (the list below; – some exeptions as it is a US list); then are still allowed to vote, why should we ban any prisoners from voting?
https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/view-all-criminal-charges.html
Aiding and Abetting / Accessory
Kidnapping
Arson
Manslaughter: Involuntary
Assault / Battery
Manslaughter: Voluntary
Attempt
Medical Marijuana
Bribery
MIP: A Minor in Possession
Burglary
Money Laundering
Child Abandonment
Murder: First-degree
Child Abuse
Murder: Second-degree
Child Pornography
Open Container (of alcohol)
Computer Crime
Perjury
Conspiracy
Probation Violation
Credit / Debit Card Fraud
Prostitution
Criminal Contempt of Court
Public Intoxication
Cyberbullying
Pyramid Schemes
Disorderly Conduct
Racketeering / RICO
Disturbing the Peace
Rape
Domestic Violence
Robbery
Drug Manufacturing and Cultivation
Securities Fraud
Drug Possession
Sexual Assault
Drug Trafficking / Distribution
Shoplifting
DUI / DWI
Solicitation
Embezzlement
Stalking
Extortion
Statutory Rape
Forgery
Tax Evasion / Fraud
Fraud
Telemarketing Fraud
Harassment
Theft
Hate Crimes
Vandalism
Homicide
White Collar Crimes
Identity Theft
Wire Fraud
Indecent Exposure
right on Cleangreen and if peter thiel can vote and who the fuck is he the problem is nz first and national know the prisoners wont vote for them so they wont want the prisoners to vote
A welcome development but will the govt act?
It would have been a bad idea for National in 2010 because much of the prison population could/would have been organised to vote against it and encourage family members and associates to vote too.
In 2020,the situation has reversed.
Many if not most of the prison population is working class,nearly half of which are Maori.
Given the evolving resistance at Ihumatao and its increasing relevance on the world stage,it is clear that this will be an election issue capable of redefining our country.
I wont be surprised when guys like The Rock and Cliff Curtis along with other big names start getting involved at Ihumatao to remind the global village that the negative effects of Crown Colonisation are global.
Giving inmates the vote is a good opportunity to implement a policy of inclusiveness and makes sense for the current regime,which is ironically but not surprisingly most likely to be voted out the longer it delays in doing the right thing in assisting the return of access and occupation rights to the Community,not the Corporation.
I read an article today about a British migrant to this country who crushed the skull of a woman and extinguished her life, and then raped her child after beating her skull in. And people like this are going to have a say in my future through voting rights? Give me 5 minutes alone with this cunt and we’ll see if he’s thinking about voting at the end of it.
yes Jody this was sad AND SICKENING are we sending him back to mother england like he Aussies do to us for lesser crimes if not hopefully he will get dealt to in prison just like the kiddy f…. s do they will probably put him in protection
Denial of prisoner voting rights. Brought to you by someone who demonstrated so many stellar accomplishments when running one of the old Maori Development Commissions (NOT).
Anyone know where Paul Quinn has sleazed off to these days?
yes Jody this was sad AND SICKENING are we sending him back to mother england like he Aussies do to us for lesser crimes if not hopefully he will get dealt to in prison just like the kiddy f…. s do they will probably put him in protection
yes Jody this was sad AND SICKENING are we sending him back to mother england like he Aussies do to us for lesser crimes if not hopefully he will get dealt to in prison just like the kiddy f…. s do they will probably put him in protection
paul quinn ex maori cop and wanker from national was only good for one thing stopping prisoners from voting a one hit wonder who didn’t last long
dont worry jody he will get sorted in prison if he last that long he will get protected at first
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