Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Smith welcomes settlement in timber case
Smith welcomes settlement in timber case
Nelson MP Nick Smith today welcomed settlement of a $14 million defamation lawsuit over timber treatment issues from five years ago when he was the Opposition spokesperson on Building and Construction.
“I am pleased this matter has been settled and the need for a six-week hearing has been averted,” Dr Smith said. “I would much rather put my time into current challenges and issues as this particular debate over timber treatment is long over.
“The settlement involves a payout from me that is less than I would have incurred from legal costs of a six-week trial. No public funds were involved in the settlement. I have been grateful for the financial support from Parliamentary Services of $209,000 for part of my legal costs to date, although the cost to me personally – including today’s settlement – exceeds this.
“This litigation has hung over me for half a decade. I’m just pleased to have it behind me so I can focus on my job of representing Nelson and my Ministerial portfolios.”
ENDS
Gordon Campbell: On The Royal Commission’s Fine-tuning Of Vaccine Mandates And Lockdowns
NZDF: Details From Interim Court Of Inquiry Report Into HMNZS Manawanui Incident Released
Land Air Water Aotearoa: Ambitious Nationwide Initiative To Track And Share Actions To Improve Freshwater
NZ Government: Chemical Weapons And Iranian Missiles Targeted In New Russia Sanctions
Ministry For Culture And Heritage: Reverberations Of Erebus Disaster Still Felt 45 Years Later
Watercare Services: No Cause For Concern After Slightly Elevated Levels Of Arsenic Detected In Treated Waikato River Water
Te Pāti Māori: Government’s First Year A ‘Catastrophe For Māori’
