The Chief District Court judge could be called to give
evidence in the hearing of a judge accused of disrupting a
New Zealand First event.
District Court Judge Ema
Aitken will appear before a judicial conduct panel, after
allegedly disrupting a function at Auckland’s exclusive
Northern Club in 2024.
She is accused of shouting that
NZ First leader Winston Peters was lying.
Judge Aitken
said
she didn’t shout, didn’t recognise Peters’ voice when
she responded to remarks she overheard and didn’t know it
was a political event.
A judicial conduct panel will
review her conduct at a hearing in February.
A minute
from last December indicated an intention from Judge Aitken,
represented by David Jones KC, to call Chief District Court
Judge Heemi Taumaunu.
“The Panel requests that the
application foreshadowed by counsel for the Judge for a
direction that a summons be issued to a witness should be
filed by no later than Friday, 23 January 2026,” it
said.
“That request applies to both the summons to the
Ministry of Justice employee… and to the summons to the
Chief District Court Judge.”
The panel overseeing the
inquiry is led by retired Court of Appeal Judge Brendan
Brown KC, and includes sitting Court of Appeal Judge Justice
Jillian Mallon and former Governor-General Sir Jerry
Mateparae.
It will determine facts and write a report
to the attorney-general, including whether the removal of
the judge is justified.
The inquiry is scheduled for
Auckland next
month.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
New Zealand’s public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
