Tongan lawyer's behaviour unacceptable in NZ Parliament [1]
Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 14:45. Updated on Monday, April 28, 2014 - 10:36.
One reads with the greatest concern the statement by a NZ ACT Member of Parliament, David Garrett (ironically, an employment lawyer for over 10 years), trying to justify lewd remarks that he made to a female worker, asserting that "I'm on a very steep learning curve, I now understand very clearly that the kind of thing that might have been okay in a law firm in Tonga is not okay in Parliament." (NZ Herald, 23/06/09).
I hope that this sort of conduct is not widespread behaviour amongst law firms in Tonga and that Mr. Garrett's practise is the exception, rather than the rule in this most respected of professions.
There may be grounds for reviewing David Garrett's license to practice here, if he considers that the humiliation of women at the workplace is not appropriate in New Zealand, but that it is perfectly fine in Tonga.
A few years ago, a disbarred New Zealand lawyer was promptly granted a permit to practice upon arrival in Tonga, while he recovered from some issues with substance abuse and periodic seizures of unethical behaviour.
Perhaps the Law Society and the Ministry of Justice can send out a gentle reminder to law firms of their obligations, not just to their clients, but also to their own employees.
Faka'apa'apa atu
Sitiveni Finau
stvnfinau [at] gmail [dot] com