A great idea that has achieved nothing

The Waikato Times reports:

The body established to investigate potential miscarriages of justice in New Zealand has referred just one case to appeal since being formed in 2020 – while in the UK its equivalent quashed 100 convictions in just one year.

That points to a “wonderful initiative” that lacks resources, according to Waikato University senior law lecturer Dr Anna Brennan.

However, the Te Kāhui Criminal Cases Review Commission chief executive Parekawhia McLean said they are in fact ahead of operational time frames.

I was so pleased when the Labour Government established this body as cases such as Peter Ellis showed that we needed an institution dedicated to reviewing dodgy convictions.

But something has gone badly wrong with just one case referred to the Court of Appeal on three years. The claim it lacks resources seem credulous as it has spent $15 million over three years.