Russell Fairbrother 

Napier Mail Column

01.10.2008

Last week, rail transport was the huge difference between Labour and National. National Leader John Key lied about his interest in Tranzrail. The National Transport spokesman spoke against investment in rail. Labour promised to rebuild the rail service.

 Respected political commentators Russell Brown said John Key lied, and Gordon Campbell wrote:

"For much of this year, Key has been hammering Peters and the Prime Minister on ethical grounds, for failing to disclose information where there was a clear obligation to the public to do so...  more +

Napier Mail Column

24.09.2008

You and I, as taxpayers, once again own New Zealand's rail system. Labour is the only major political party with a commitment to making rail work for Napier. What was old will be new again.

Bringing the railcar back to Napier adds coherence to our shopping areas and access to our schools.  It enables smaller commuter buses to service the city, the suburbs and Wairoa. 

 Bringing the railcar back to Hawke's Bay makes greater sense of our public health system.&nbs...  more +

Napier Mail Column

17.09.2008

Several correspondents have taken issue with my election pamphlet on dealing with crime. It seems they don't disagree with what I say, but assume that I am being hypocritical, and that I don't really believe these things. Well, they are wrong.

 One of the inescapable consequences of being a criminal barrister is you are confronted with the reality of crime. The terrible damage done to the victims and, in many cases, their families. The very difficult task of the police. And also the miserable lives lived by many of the p...  more +

7th Annual Maori Legal Forum Speech

29.07.2008

"UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND COMMUNAL RIGHTS” - "Many of the rights conferred by the Treaty of Waitangi are reflective of traditional Maori collective structures but are they at odds with our Bill of Rights legislation?” Russell spoke for an hour on the above topic - his speech is below.

 "Understanding the Relationship between individual human rights and communal rights"

 By Russell Fairbrother, MP

Barrister

1. Mason Durie concludes his book, published in 2003, Nga Tai Matatu - Tides of Maori Endurance with this verse:

Maori e...  more +