20 Oct 2022

Former Speaker Trevor Mallard 'unreasonable, irrational, unjustified' in trespassing Winston Peters - High Court

2:05 pm on 20 October 2022
Winston Peters visits protestors at Parliament

Winston Peters visits protestors at Parliament Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

The High Court has declared Parliament's Speaker was unreasonable, irrational, and unjustified in his decision to trespass NZ First leader Winston Peters.

The former speaker Trevor Mallard issued the warnings - which prohibited entry to parliament grounds for two years - after protesters continued to occupy parliament's grounds in February and March after being told to leave. Peters visited the protesters.

In a consent judgment, Justice Gwyn declared the Speaker's exercise of power was unreasonable and irrational and that the trespass was an unjustified limitation on Peters' right to freedom of movement under the Bill of Rights.