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New Zealand abolishes appeal to Britain`s Privy Council
Wellington, Oct 14: New Zealand today cut one of its few remaining colonial ties when the Parliament voted to create a Supreme Court and end the Right of Appeals to the London-based Privy Council.
Wellington, Oct 14: New Zealand today cut one of
its few remaining colonial ties when the Parliament voted to
create a Supreme Court and end the Right of Appeals to the
London-based Privy Council.
New Zealand was one of a handful of Commonwealth
countries to retain the Privy Council appeal but in a tough
parliamentary debate the government won 63 votes to 53 to end
the tradition.
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson told the assembly it was time New Zealand stood on its own feet.
"We must throw off, once and for all, the fetters of our colonial past," she said.
Opposition parties claimed that what amounted to a major constitutional change in a country without a constitution should be put to a public referendum.
The bill passed today abolishes the right of appeal to the Privy Council and from July 01 next year, a New Zealand Supreme Court will be the country's final court of appeal.
Wilson said the change had been on the agenda of different governments for 30 years.
More than 50 independent countries have withdrawn from the Privy Council, leaving the Bahamas, Brunei, Mauritius and Tuvalu still maintaining the link to the British system.
Bureau Report
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson told the assembly it was time New Zealand stood on its own feet.
"We must throw off, once and for all, the fetters of our colonial past," she said.
Opposition parties claimed that what amounted to a major constitutional change in a country without a constitution should be put to a public referendum.
The bill passed today abolishes the right of appeal to the Privy Council and from July 01 next year, a New Zealand Supreme Court will be the country's final court of appeal.
Wilson said the change had been on the agenda of different governments for 30 years.
More than 50 independent countries have withdrawn from the Privy Council, leaving the Bahamas, Brunei, Mauritius and Tuvalu still maintaining the link to the British system.
Bureau Report