Peters v Bennett

[2018] NZHC 1874

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA TĀMAKI MAKAURAU ROHE

CIV-2018-404-001122

[2018] NZHC 1874

BETWEEN

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WINSTON RAYMOND PETERS
Plaintiff

AND

PAULA LEE BENNETT

First Defendant

PETER HUGHES
Second Defendant

ANNE MERILYN TOLLEY
Third Defendant

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL sued on
behalf of the MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Fourth Defendant

BRENDAN BOYLE

Fifth Defendant

Hearing:	(On the papers)
Judgment:	27 July 2018

JUDGMENT OF VENNING J

Application to access Court documents

This judgment was delivered by me on 27 July 2018 at 11.30 am, pursuant to Rule 11.5 of the High Court Rules.

Registrar/Deputy Registrar

Date……………

Solicitors:           Clifton Killip Lyon, Auckland

Kiely Thompson Caisley, Auckland Crown Law, Wellington

Counsel:            B Henry/C Foster

Copy to:            Office of the Privacy Commissioner, Wellington

PETERS v BENNETT [2018] NZHC 1874 [27 July 2018]

[1]    Ms Foster, general counsel in the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, has made an application under the Senior Courts (Access to Court Documents) Rules 2016 for access to the pleadings, namely the statement of claim and statements of defence in this case. The grounds to support the application are that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has an interest in privacy proceedings in the Courts.

[2]    The request has been referred to the parties. None of them have any objection to the application.

[3]    I am satisfied that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has a proper interest in these proceedings. There are no matters under r 12 that count against the request which is a proper one.

[4]    The Registrar is directed to make available copies of the statement of claim and statements of defence in this case to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Venning J