Newspaper editor faces charges over raid leaks

Contempt of court proceedings have been started against The Dominion Post's editor and owner over the publication of suppressed police evidence collected during last year's police raids in the Ureweras.

Solicitor-General David Collins QC filed papers in the High Court in Wellington on Monday against editor Tim Pankhurst and Fairfax New Zealand.

In November a number of Fairfax newspapers ran articles which contained conversations recorded during police surveillance of people they then suspected of terrorism.

The Dominion Post claimed the information came from a leaked 156-page affidavit police used to gain search warrants for the raids.

The articles were accompanied by an editorial in which The Dominion Post said it "(had) not taken lightly the decision" to publish the material.

"We believe we are acting within the law, we also believe we are acting in the public interest."

The police operation was completed on October 15 with 16 people arrested and charged with arms offences.

Police had also sought to introduce terrorism charges but Dr Collins told police he was "unable to authorise" the action.

Dr Collins' contempt application said publishing the suppressed evidence could jeopardise the defendants' right to a fair trial.

Prior to The Dominion Post's suppression breach TV3 news had given brief details of what was in the leaked documents, but at the last minute ditched plans to release more information on Campbell Live after being cautioned by the Crown Law Office.

- NZPA