NZ POLITICS DAILY: Charges dropped in Urewera 'terror' case

Another chapter in the saga of malicious bungling by the police has come to a ridiculous end with charges being dropped against 11 of the accused in the Urewera 'terror' case – see: 'Urewera 18' charges dropped.

The whole story of the Urewera police raids has been woeful right from the start, and it aids the reputation of the state for over-reacting. The state has already spent what could be millions of dollars on the case, and the trial was set to become the most expensive in New Zealand’s criminal history. So this is embarrassing for the police, who it seems just didn’t have enough appropriate evidence to make their case.

But it’s also embarrassing for the Labour and National parties, who have governed throughout the four-year debacle. This will be accentuated if the accused managed to win compensation for unlawful search and seizure. So coming on the back of the Nicky Hager’s recent expose of the Labour-National war on terror abroad, this domestic clampdown on supposed ‘terrorism’ should also result in some difficult questions being put to the major parties during the election campaign.

While there continues to be good questions that can be asked about National’s handling of the Christchurch earthquake rebuild, it seems that Labour is going about this in a very disappointing way. John Armstrong has written an excellent column on this – see: Goff ventures onto shaky ground.

Essentially Labour is lacking any credibility in its critiques of National because it refuses to put up an alternative to how National is doing it.

This makes Labour look increasingly hypocritical and shallow.

Armstrong says: ‘it was a bit rich for Goff to criticise the Government yesterday for not making fast enough progress towards restoring some degree of normality to the lives of the citizens of Christchurch when Labour has yet to outline its stance on the crucial question of how much compensation should be paid to those people in the city's red zone who have to move out of their houses.'

Armstrong concludes, ‘And Labour wonders why it is rating so poorly in opinion polls.' Here the nail is hit on the head, because it epitomises Labour’s credibility problem in which it rails so rhetorically strong against National, but then doesn’t seem to come up with the alternative good itself. This problem is highlighted further by Alex Tarrant, who continues to point out that Labour offers no solutions on earthquake payouts or on the problem of the insurance market in Christchurch.

The Auditor General’s report on Pansy Wong’s use of parliamentary travel allowance appears to almost exonerate her – see the AG’s statement, although Labour isn’t convinced – see: Wong's claim 'not credible' - Goff and Another Wong whitewash. But no doubt the bigger issue to come out of the report is the further condemnation of the whole system of travel allowances, which the Auditor General says is still highly problematic. For more in-depth analysis (and cartoons!) about these problems, see my own lengthy analysis in the blog post from last year: 10 pertinent questions (and answers) about axing the MP international travel perk.

Prof Margaret Mutu’s reactionary comments on immigration continue to receive attention – see, for example: Immigration race row escalates – and although Mutu’s racial beliefs more properly reflect a demagogue than an actual academic, her right to make them should be defended. So complaints to the University of Auckland and to the Race Relations Office appear to be particularly unhelpful and indeed also worrying – see: Race relations complaint against professor.

In fact, Phil Quin make some excellent points about this in his succinct blog post, Bring it on, Prof. Mutu: ‘she should be encouraged to speak her mind, not vilified by the appropriateness monitors who are in danger of turning New Zealand’s public discourse into an an even more desolate and depressing blandscape than it already is’. So as much as Quin might disagree with Mutu, he usefully pinpoints a greater concern: ‘New Zealand’s problem is decidedly not an excess of provocative characters on the national stage’. Also, see Eric Crampton’s ever-useful analysis. And John Tamihere has some sensible things to say about the Mutu’s beliefs in this Australian ABC radio item.

Other useful items for today include: Chris Trotter’s Can Key give serious answers?, David Farrar’s Party lists: how important is diversity?, and Phil Quin’s Parties of progress must themselves progress.

Bryce Edwards, NZPD Editor (bryce.edwards@otago.ac.nz)

Today’s content:

'Urewera 18' charges dropped

Jared Savage (NZH): 'Urewera 18' charges dropped

TVNZ: Crown drops charges against Urewera 'terror' accused

The Standard: Please stop the police from using punishment before conviction!

Canterbury earthquake rebuild

John Armstrong (NZH): Goff ventures onto shaky ground

Alex Tarrant (interest): Labour criticises govt over red-zone payout back-down, but can offer no solution of its own

Alex Tarrant (interest): Labour's Goff calls on govt to say if it's considered being insurer of last resort in Christchurch

Lloyd Burr (TV3): 'Too little, too late' from Govt in Chch rebuild - Goff