‘Deputy Prime Minister ‘very upset’: Top law officials’ texts revealed after judge, NZ First party ‘fracas’

“Oh dear.” That’s how one of New Zealand’s top legal officials reacted to news a District Court judge had allegedly interrupted NZ First leader Winston Peters ’ speech during an end-of-year bash at Auckland’s exclusive Northern Club. Solicitor General Una Jagose messaged Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite on December 11, weeks after the speech, asking him if he’d heard about the brouhaha.

“Also have you heard about the fracas at the northern club between DCJs [District Court Judges] and NZ First Christmas parties?” Jagose wrote. “Oh dear. No [wide-eyed emoji].



..did comity not prevail?” Kibblewhite replied.

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