There has been a big jump in the number of complaints about the Supreme Court, but it isn't setting off alarm bells among the judiciary or politicians. The Judicial Conduct Commission has noted complaints from an increasing number of dissatisfied litigants. They are making separate but thematically linked complaints about judges. A significant proportion of complaints come from individuals who have been declared by a court to be vexatious litigants - and sometimes from their supporters. The sudden lift in complaints is happening now because the litigants' gripes have risen from the lower courts to reach the Supreme Court. The complainants are now busy appealing refusals to allow appeals, as well as other unsuccessful pleas to lower courts.
Good, not great
"Good news for Wellington's economy in Infometrics report" declared a Wellington City Council press release this week, noting the 2.6 per cent rise in the region's GDP in the year to June. Unfortunately for the capital, a quick look at the accompanying Infometrics analysis reveals that was less than the national average growth rate (3.1 per cent), and of the dozen economic indicators monitored, the capital lagged the national average on half of them.
Easy come, easy go
John Key's electorate chairman, Stephen McElrea, seems to be slipping away from the NZ on Air board as quietly as he came in. His December 2009 appointment to the board was disclosed in the NZ Gazette, but otherwise went unpublicised. In July, Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams announced the appointment of two new members, the reappointment of the chair and two others. But who do the new members replace? Although the press release about the changes says incoming board member Helen Grattan will have a three-year term, only the NZ Gazette notice reveals it doesn't start until January 1 next year, the day after McElrea's appointment is due to expire. So it appears McElrea will leave as he came in, unheralded.
