NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Man threatens to take ACC branch 'hostage'

By Anna Ferrick
Hawkes Bay Today·
6 Jun, 2013 07:35 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Paul Shann pictured at home in Puketapu with a large amount of ACC paperwork. Photo / Glenn Taylor
Paul Shann pictured at home in Puketapu with a large amount of ACC paperwork. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Paul Shann pictured at home in Puketapu with a large amount of ACC paperwork. Photo / Glenn Taylor

A Napier man has been convicted after sending an email threatening to take an ACC branch "hostage".

Paul Selwyn Shann, 53, had been embroiled in a 16-year ACC dispute over a medical claim and became increasingly angry after receiving a letter which he said did not address his concerns.

On March 19 he was at home in Puketapu when he sent an email to an ACC remote claim unit manager. The last paragraph read: "Do I need to take an ACC building hostage before you will hand over my illegally withheld medical reports?"

He appeared in Napier District Court yesterday charged under the Telecommunications Act with using a telephone device for the purpose of disturbing by maliciously transmitting communications.

The court heard he had been previously warned for similar offending. Judge Tony Adeane cautioned him to be "careful with how you go about this argument".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Shann later told Hawke's Bay Today he had been fighting ACC for the release of medical documents relating to a back injury he sustained in 1996.

He said ACC had "withheld" up to 27 medical reports from him and the judicial system over the past 16 years which had resulted in a decision in 2003 from a District Court Judge that he was no longer eligible for ACC payments.

Shann said ACC released only six of his many medical reports for the judge to assess when making his decision.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said the rest of the medical reports were buried in the system.

Since then, Shann said an ACC worker had been providing him with the medical reports anonymously which told a tale of his inability to recover from injury and need for treatment.

He also claimed his original injury was made worse by physiotherapy he received following the incident and a fall he took during a back pain study for ACC. A total of six injuries within four months.

He said ACC told him all of the injuries should have healed within six weeks, even though many medical reports he has since obtained tell a different story.

He said the original court decision, based on the six medical reports which did not give an accurate picture of his physical state, meant an ongoing battle for him.

"It's not just about me anymore, about my back. I'm destined to be crippled and in pain 24 hours a day.

"This is an issue of justice. It's not just me getting screwed over, they're doing this to thousands of people."

He said he has been unable to fully partake in work for the past 16 years and has not been able to sleep more than two hours at a time due to pain.

He has migraines 80-90 per cent of the time.

When contacted by Hawke's Bay Today a representative for ACC said, "ACC are not withholding any medical information".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He pleaded guilty to sending the email and was ordered to reappear before the courts for sentencing should he reoffend within the next six months.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

18 May 09:22 AM
New Zealand|crime

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

18 May 07:00 AM
New Zealand

Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

18 May 06:03 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River
New Zealand

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

18 May 09:22 AM
Two dead after Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge, 17 others injured
World

Two dead after Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge, 17 others injured

18 May 08:55 AM
From missionary to Pope: Leo XIV's journey to the Vatican
World

From missionary to Pope: Leo XIV's journey to the Vatican

18 May 08:12 AM
Israeli air strikes kill 33 in Gaza, half were children, officials say
World

Israeli air strikes kill 33 in Gaza, half were children, officials say

18 May 07:07 AM
Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery
New Zealand

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

18 May 07:00 AM

Latest from New Zealand

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

18 May 09:22 AM

They were returning from an overnight hike to Kapakapanui Hut when the weather changed.

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

18 May 07:00 AM
Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

18 May 06:03 AM
Man fighting for his life after South Auckland assault, police hunting three offenders

Man fighting for his life after South Auckland assault, police hunting three offenders

18 May 05:16 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search