Legal challenge to TPPA secrecy lodged today 5 Aug 2015
Joint Press Release5 August 2015
Legal challenge to TPPA secrecy lodged today
Papers were filed in the High
Court in Wellington today seeking an urgent judicial review
of Trade Minister Tim Groser’s blanket refusal to release
any documents sought in a comprehensive Official Information
Act request made by University of Auckland law Professor
Jane Kelsey in January this year.
The request was based on a report from the European Union Ombudsman recommending release of similar documents from the US-EU negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Today’s application was lodged following receipt of the Chief Ombudsman’s report last Wednesday evening upholding the Minister’s decision.
The TPPA will have potentially far reaching consequences for the foreseeable future. The applicants believe there is an important public interest in the requested information being publicly available, so people can better understand the issues under negotiation and the position the government has taken on behalf of the people of New Zealand, before the negotiations are concluded.
The applicants have asked the High Court for a declaration that the Minister’s decision was unlawful in a variety of ways, and are seeking an urgent hearing as soon as practicable.
Those bringing the case are Consumer NZ, Ngati Kahungunu, the Tertiary Education Union, Oxfam, Greenpeace, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), as well as Professor Kelsey.
Comments from the co-applicants
Ngati Kahungunu are the third largest iwi and are also claimants in the Waitangi Tribunal challenge to the TPPA. The iwi were original claimants on the WAI262 “flora, fauna and intellectual property” claim to the Waitangi Tribunal which, amongst other things, was about providing for involvement of M?ori in the development of New Zealand's positions on international instruments affecting indigenous rights. Ng?ti Kahungunu continues that work in their continuing advocacy for substantive engagement with M?ori in relation to the TPPA.
Consumer NZhas more than 90,000 members and is a recognized consumer advocate on behalf of all New Zealanders. Its principal aim is to collect and disseminate information of benefit to consumers and, in doing so, advance the interests of its members and those of consumers generally. It considers the TPPA is likely to significantly impact on all New Zealand consumers.
Oxfam NZ is an international development non-governmental organization interested in trade negotiations that model transparency and include mechanisms to protect sovereignty for developing nations. It considers that draft clauses of the TPPA that have been leaked cause concern in respect to the possible impact on New Zealanders and for vulnerable populations in developing nations who are party to the agreement.
The New Zealand Tertiary Education Union Te Haut? Kahurangi o Aotearoa (TEU) represents the interests of 10,000 workers employed in the tertiary education sector across New Zealand who are committed to the advancement of tertiary and further education, teaching and research, and academic freedom. The TEU is particularly concerned about the exposure of education as a commodity that can be traded like any other goods or services. This has the potential to undermine New Zealand's legislative right to academic freedom and, as a result, to undermine and compromise the quality of education that can presently be guaranteed under New Zealand law.
Greenpeace New Zealandis an independent environmental organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. It is concerned that the TPPA will allow foreign corporates to legally challenge New Zealand laws that protect our environment because they affect their profits. It sees approval of the TPPA having a significant and negative impact on New Zealanders being able to protect their natural heritage.
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists(ASMS) is the union representing the employment and professional interests of specialists and other salaried senior doctors and dentists, most of whom are employed in the public health service. ASMS isconcerned about the lack of transparency over the potential impact of the TPPA on New Zealand’s health system, the failure to allow an independent assessment of its impact on the health system, the risks for the ability of Pharmac to negotiate less expensive pharmaceuticals, reduced sovereignty in the development of public health policies (such as tobacco and alcohol control) including investors through the investor-state disputes process.
The purpose of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is to promote and advocate for professional excellence in nursing, to progress the profession of nursing, and to enhance the health and wellbeing of all people of Aotearoa New Zealand. NZNO’s major concern is that TPPA provisions could lead to a significant increase in the costs of medicines, and medical devices, which would adversely affect equitable access to healthcare. It considers that open access to the government’s expert assessment and cost benefit analysis in relation to, for example, data extensions of biologics is essential to inform potential cost effects of the TPPA on public health.
ends
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more