August 02, 2021
Peters hits dead end in leak liability case
The Court of Appeal has turned down a request by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to put further evidence in his case that his privacy was invaded by the leaking of his New Zealand Superannuation overpayment.
The court has ruled there was no fault on the part of Mr Peters that he was paid the rate for a single person rather than the partnered rate, and he repaid the overpayment as soon as it was discovered.
The leak to media happened after Ministry of Social Development chief executive Brendan Boyle and State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes briefed their ministers, Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett respectively.
The court says the briefings were provided under the “no surprises” principle in good faith and on a confidential basis, and the chief executives were covered by the immunity from liability section of the State Sector Act 1988
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