Plenary, one of the largest private infrastructure investors in Australia, had expressed interest and wrote to Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop expressing disappointment after the Budget was announced, BusinessDesk reported.<\/p>\n
The Rotorua courthouse. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Bishop has defended the Government\u2019s funding U-turn, saying it needs to stick to its budget, like every household.<\/p>\n
But his fellow minister, Rotorua MP Todd McClay, has vowed to sidle up to his National colleagues and push for the funding in the next Budget.<\/p>\n
\u2018Appalling\u2019 conditions<\/p>\n
Rotorua defence lawyer Tim Braithwaite said there had been no update as to when and if the Government intended to fund the project.<\/p>\n
Braithwaite said in the meantime, the serious problems in the justice system in and around Rotorua had worsened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelays in court proceedings, caused by insufficient courtrooms and judges, are appalling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Braithwaite said in the District Court, people were being held in custody for days and sometimes weeks without being able to apply for bail, simply because there was no court time to hear the bail applications.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of these people then get bail and have no recourse for the days they should not have been held in custody.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the High Court, with more serious offending, trials were being delayed by years, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA recent murder case was given a court date in August 2028. The ramifications are serious for all involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the slashing of funds from this year\u2019s Budget could only mean the Government did not appreciate the seriousness of the issues.<\/p>\n
Rotorua defence lawyer Max Simpkins. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Senior Rotorua barrister Max Simpkins said the delay was frustrating and the conditions were so bad, he wondered if the current building was even safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a new one now. It\u2019s just hopeless in there for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simpkins gave examples of when the shoddy state of the building had impacted cases.<\/p>\n
\u201cWater was coming through the light fittings as a witness was giving evidence in trial in Courtroom Four and during a murder trial once, the pipes burst and water leaked all over our books and the trial had to be aborted.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said one of the main issues was during sensitive cases, such as sexual assault complaints, when complainants needed to walk past or be in the vicinity of the accused and their lawyers.<\/p>\n
Simpkins said there were not enough courtrooms and judges to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would be one of the busiest provincial centres outside of the main cities. Tauranga is getting a new courthouse and it doesn\u2019t even have a High Court registry as such.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said issues with capacity at the current site forced trials to be relocated to Auckland and Hamilton, which ended up costing taxpayers more \u2013 taking into account travel, accommodation and other expenses for counsel and witnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are supposed to be tried by your people in your community. This is their community, not Hamilton and Auckland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rotorua Crown solicitor Amanda Gordon.<\/p>\n