Paniora was charged with assaulting two women in September
Barrister Ihapera Paniora has been denied name suppression over an incident wherein she assaulted two women in a Whangārei shop, reported the NZ Herald.
The incident took place on 15 September. Paniora, a leader in Northland, had pleaded guilty to two common assault charges last month. Paniora had sought permanent name suppression on the grounds that she and her whānau would sustain extreme hardship if her name was released.
Whangārei District Court judge Gene Tomlinson denied the application in an October 2 hearing but issued an interim order to keep Paniora’s name under wraps to permit an opportunity for appeal. Paniora’s name was publicised following the expiration of the appeal period.
She is set to be sentenced on 28 November in Kaikohe District Court.
Tomlinson acknowledged the vitriol hurled against women in public office. However, he ruled Paniora had not proven that she would suffer extreme hardship due to the publication of her name.
“The starting point is, of course, open justice: it is vitally important in a democracy to have free speech and the right of the media to report judicial proceedings fairly and accurately”, he said in a statement published by the Herald.
Paniora’s lawyer, Sam McDonald, requested that no convictions be laid so that Paniora could apply for a discharge without conviction. If this is not granted, Paniora could be sentenced to up to six months in jail and/or a maximum fine of $4,000.
Paniora was the inaugural and only Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward councillor. She holds a senior position at Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua.
