Judge Collins at Wellington High Court 20 November 2017:

Former Solicitor General David Collins heard the matter of Te Ringa Mangu Mihaka v Human Rights Review Tribunal and Housing New Zealand Corporation in the High Court at Wellington today (20 November 2017).

At twenty past four Judge Collins issued a Minute which can be read at this link.

It says that under the High Court Rules Mr Mihaka seeks to appeal a decision of the Human Rights Review Tribunal, Housing New Zealand [Corporation] have sought security for costs in relation to the appeal, Mr Mihaka and his Maori Agent opposed the application for security for costs on the grounds that Mr Mihaka is impecunious.

Judge Collins then noted the matters involving Mr Mihaka's lawyers, which are under
investigation by the Law Society, the Privacy Commissioner and the New Zealand Police.

Judge Collins noted that Mr Mihaka's efforts to secure the services of a lawyer had been "futile".

Judge Collins mentions "a tranche of litigation" involving Mr Mihaka's dispute with Housing New Zealand Corporation.  He then goes on to say that in the Court's assessment it is better to have these matters properly ventilated as expeditiously as possible.  He has allocated a one hour fixture on 28th February,

Mr Max Clarke-Parker for Meredith Connell on behalf of Housing New Zealand did his job.  Mr Mihaka and his agent enjoyed a korero with Mr Clarke-Parker after our appearance before Judge Collins, this korero was very constructive.

Of particular note were the actions of the young(ish) security guards at the High Court today.  While the more mature guard, Richard, was downstairs these young oafs told Mr Mihaka he couldn't take "that" in to the Court, pointing at his tokotoko (walking stick).

When Mr Mihaka's Maori Agent questioned this, and asked if the guards enforced this ban on everyone using a walking stick or just our 'Maori' kaumatua, the guard replied that it wasn't the actual walking stick he was referring to as "that", it was the flag thereon.

When Mr Mihaka and the Maori Agent expressed incredulity at this and asked the guard what was so bad about the flag he replied "Well we can't have him waving it around in there."

The Maori Agent said "We'll see about that" and went to the Courtroom to tell the Judge that Mr Mihaka had been detained in the Court foyer.

The guard then entered the Courtroom, and asked to see Judge Collins out the back - it was already a chambers list hearing.  After the little tete a tete they returned and Judge Collins said it was fine for Mr Mihaka to bring his toko toko and his flag into the Court which we did, without further incident.

The 1835 flag has never been decommissioned, and according to Te Tiriti o Waitangi tangata whenua are guaranteed unrestricted use of and access to ALL our taonga, including our flag.

Ironically, the Court coat of arms features a (usually blonde) female holding a British flag, and a Maori gentleman holding a taiaha.

Our tipuna Hone Heke chopped down the flagpole three times because the British refused to honour our flag - our taonga - and fly it alongside the British flag of "New Zealand" - a country allegedly named by a Dutchman who never set foot on this land!

John Key spent twenty six million dollars trying to con everyone into thinking 'New Zealand' only had one flag - we need to honour the original flag and honour the treaty.