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Couple who flouted Auckland lockdown to travel to Wānaka named
This story first appeared on RNZ
A judge’s son and his barrister partner are the couple who police say flouted lockdown rules by travelling to a Wānaka holiday home from Auckland.
William Willis is the son of District Court Judge Mary-Beth Sharp. Photo: Getty Images
RNZ reported that they are William Willis, a 35-year-old equestrian from Karaka, and his partner Hannah Rawnsley, a 26-year-old barrister from Pukekohe.
Police said the pair crossed the alert level 4 border from Auckland using essential worker exemptions and drove to Hamilton Airport on Thursday.
It also reported that they took a commercial flight to Queenstown via Wellington, rented a vehicle and drove to Wānaka.
Police said they were notified via the Covid-19 compliance reporting tool online, and found the pair on Saturday afternoon.
William Willis is the son of District Court Judge Mary-Beth Sharp.
In a statement issued by their lawyer Rachael Reed QC, the couple said the decision to travel to Wānaka was “completely irresponsible and inexcusable”.
“We are deeply sorry for our actions and would like to unreservedly apologize to the Wanaka community, and to all the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, for what we did.”
The couple said that they both tested negative for Covid-19 before travelling and on their return to Auckland.
They said they were not close contacts of a positive case and had not visited any locations of interest.
“We initially sought name suppression after receiving death threats and we had genuine fear for our safety. However, we remain committed to taking responsibility for our actions and will not be seeking further name suppression.”
“We understand that strict compliance is required to stamp out Covid-19 from our country.
“We have let everyone down with our actions, and we wholeheartedly apologise.”
The duo were initially granted interim name suppression after Willis’ lawyer argued social media users cannot be trusted to follow non-publication orders.
An urgent teleconference hearing was held on Monday night, during which Rachael Reed QC submitted the couple should keep their names secret as social media users, bloggers, and citizen journalists could not be expected to follow suppression orders as mainstream media would.
In a decision released on Tuesday, Judge Davidson granted the couple interim name suppression and prohibited the publication of other identifying details, including Judge Sharp’s occupation.
This allowed time for the couple and Judge Sharp to consider applying to the High Court for non-publication orders ahead of formal charges being laid.
Police prosecutor Ned Fletcher noted there might be some delay in filing charges or the couple’s first appearance in court due to Auckland’s alert level four restrictions.
Charges have not been laid yet against the couple.
If filed, the charges would allege breaches of the Covid-19 Public Health Response Order.
‘Appalled’ by son’s actions
In a statement issued in a personal capacity, Willis’ mother Mary-Beth Sharp, said she was embarrassed by the couple’s actions.
“Like the rest of New Zealand, I was appalled to learn of my son William and his partner’s actions over the weekend.
“In addition, I was and am highly embarrassed,” she said.
“Had I known of their intentions, which of course I did not, I would have told them not to act so thoughtlessly and selfishly. I do not condone their conduct.”
Sharp said she supported the couple’s decision to no longer seek name suppression.
A spokesperson from the Office of the Chief District Court Judge said Judge Sharp of the Auckland District Court had advised the Chief District Court Judge that her son was one of the persons facing possible charges and that she was not involved in any way to the actions of the couple.
In a statement, the spokesperson said to avoid any potential conflict of interest, the Chief District Court Judge had put in place arrangements for a judge of the Wellington District Court to deal with any proceedings in relation to the matter.
–RNZ
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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