Who keeps the courts in their lane?

Who keeps the courts in their lane?

May 14, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

Oliver discusses the implications of the Government's legislation regarding the Smith v Fonterra climate change case with Roger Partridge.

In this episode, Oliver talks with Roger Partridge about the Government’s decision to legislate to stop the Smith v Fonterra climate change case. They discuss why Parliament was right to step in after the Supreme Court reinstated a claim the Court of Appeal had unanimously struck out, the causation problems at the heart of the case, and why media claims of an attack on judicial independence get New Zealand’s constitutional order backwards.

People in this episode

Host: Oliver

Guest: Roger Partridge

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Government, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Fonterra

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