16 Sept 2019
SCENIC CIRCLE HOTEL GROUP LIMITED v WEST COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL [2019] NZHC 2326
- Citation
- [2019] NZHC 2326
- Court
- High Court
The application for media access to the plaintiff's pleadings was declined as premature because permitting publication of a statement of claim before defendants have filed substantive defences risks unfairness and unbalanced reporting; the public interest in open justice does not outweigh these fairness and orderly administration concerns at the pleadings stage, and the media may renew the request once defendants have filed their statements of defence.