20 Apr 2020
PETERS v BENNETT & ORS [2020] NZHC 761
- Citation
- [2020] NZHC 761
- Court
- High Court
Court found plaintiff had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the MSD investigation into his NZS overpayment and that public disclosure to media would be highly offensive, but plaintiff failed to prove that any defendant (Ministers, MSD, SSC or officials) was responsible for leaking the information to the media. Disclosures to MSD management, to the State Services Commission and to Ministers were made in good faith and were justified under the 'no surprises' convention in the particular factual context (sensitivity following unrelated disclosures and public interest in assurance of system…