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Archived Press Releases 2009 21st September 2009

MINISTER OF COURTS SNUBS VICTIMS CONFERENCE

(21st September 2009)

It has been revealed that the Minister of Courts did not respond to an invite to attend the Victims Rights Conference held in Taupo over the weekend.

More than 100 of the country’s most high profile families of Homicide Victims gathered in Taupo to discuss how the Court process had treated them.

Under the theme, ‘Courts ON Trial’ the Victims were given an opportunity to discuss what changes needed to be made to make the Court System more user friendly from a Victims perspective.

Sensible Sentencing Trust hosted the Conference which was addressed by the Minister of Corrections Judith Collins and attended by local MP Louise Upston.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said he had personally emailed the Minister of Courts, Georgina Te Heuheu inviting her to attend but had not heard back despite repeat emails.

“We were very disappointed as we felt it was an ideal opportunity for the Minister to hear first-hand how the Courts were performing, where they were failing and what could be done to improve them.”

“Exclusion from the Court process was one of the issues the Victims highlighted, it would appear that the Minister of Courts has a head-in-the-sand attitude and that mind-set is reflected by the whole Court system – including some Judges.”

Mr McVicar said the fact that the Minister had chosen not to attend the Conference, even though she lived in Taupo where the Conference was held, would not deter them delivering the issues that had been highlighted to her – by hand – if necessary.

“A summary of the findings will be delivered to ALL members of Parliament and Justice Officials inviting them to attend a solution focused Conference in Wellington next year.”

“If the Minister of Courts thinks that by not attending the Taupo Victims Conference she has avoided fronting up to the Victims she is badly mistaken.”

“They will be on her door-step next year."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.