Court TPP review kicks off today

A court bid to get more openness around the TPP trade talks has been launched. Photo / NZ Herald

The process around the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is coming under judicial review in the High Court today.

University of Auckland Professor Jane Kelsey made a request under the Official Information Act in January this year, but it was refused.

She said it's her understanding Trade Minister Tim Groser's refusal to be transparent about the TPPA goes against the Act.

Professor Kelsey hopes that by having a judicial review, it will remove some of the secrecy around not only the TPPA, but future trade deals and agreements.
"Ministers and governments increasingly hide behind rights to withhold information and there hasn't been an effective judicial review of that for a very long time."

The professor said she hopes the government will take note of the unease felt by many groups in New Zealand.

"They should actually recognise that New Zealanders don't buy into the 'trust me' democracy line. They want to know what the government is negotiating and they want to see it before it is done."

This comes as Prime Minister John Key is expected to push the deal ahead during his visit to the United Nations this week.

Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman said John Key will be focusing his attention on promoting a TPP which benefits New Zealand exporters.

"The 12 countries that constitute the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries constitute 40 per cent of the world's trade."

John Key will also be seeking a one on one with US President Barack Obama