Barrister and solicitor. Specialist abuse redress lawyer.
Joined August 2025
- Tweets 27
- Following 7
- Followers 2
- Likes 4
Photos and videos
Children's Minister won't say how many people still in bootcamps. rnz.co.nz/news/political/598…
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Jun 15
Questions over MSD's declined abuse in care compensation claims after court ruling rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-jus…
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Benton Legal retweeted
Jun 12
Outside St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland.
Photo credit goes to them
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Jun 12
The 'toothless' official information law keeping us in the dark rnz.co.nz/news/political/597…
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Jun 12
'Obstructive position' taken on historical sex abuse investigation by St Bede's College. Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money says it's "beyond disappointing that St Bede's maintains its obstructive position". rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-jus…
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Benton Legal retweeted
Jun 10
We recently successfully challenged how MSD assesses whether claims should be registered, after an increasing number of claims were being refused using a test not in its Handbook. The High Court has found MSD’s approach unlawful. (1/2)
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Jun 9
Rangatahi Māori getting less timely help from Oranga Tamariki system rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korih…
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Jun 7
Govt's planned 'ban' on prolonged solitary confinement is not a ban newsroom.co.nz/2026/06/06/go…
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Jun 2
stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36098708…
An independent review that limits any consultation with affected key stakeholders - whether through a decision of the reviewer or limits on its terms of reference - is not a robust or independent review. It is lip service, white-washing walls.
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May 24
community.scoop.co.nz/2026/0…
“Human Dignity Is Not Conditional”: SNAP Aotearoa Slams Government Redress Bill.
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Benton Legal retweeted
May 14
St Bede's commissions investigation as former priest jailed for sexual abuse rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-jus…
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May 13
stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36097839…
Another careless privacy breach with hugely devastating effects.
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May 11
Yesterday, the NZ Marist Brothers made a formal public apology to survivors of abuse - scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2605/S…
The apology was boycotted by a number of survivors and advocates - rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-jus…
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May 11
There are some real improvements, including increase of quantum and considering claims that don't fall within A Path to Healing. Most significantly, an average payment of $50,000 for sexual abuse.
This is still nowhere near the amounts the Royal Commission recommended, however.
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May 11
Finally, there is a vague reference to a Catholic-wide redress scheme. How do survivors know whether to wait for that scheme to see if their offer would improve? Offers now should be made subject to a potential top-up if the Catholic-wide scheme leads to a better outcome.
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May 11
It is good that they are finally acknowledging the need to cover legal fees as well, although what that looks like in practice remains to be seen.
It will be interesting to see if the Marist Brothers will be more open to accepting claims it has previously rejected.
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May 11
I have specialised in abuse redress claims for 14 years and the Marist Brothers have always had one of the worst responses of any organisation, both in terms of rejecting valid claims and in the settlement offers themselves.
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May 11
ombudsman.parliament.nz/news…
Ombudsman publishes findings on Ministry of Education sensitive claims scheme - parts of the scheme are unreasonable. “It has taken far too long to process claims and there have been unjustifiable delays before the Ministry published information...”
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