/on-air/holiday-breakfast/opinion/rss obÌåÓý½Ó¿Ú Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:08:41 Z en /on-air/holiday-breakfast/opinion/tim-beveridge-peace-cant-be-taken-for-granted/ /on-air/holiday-breakfast/opinion/tim-beveridge-peace-cant-be-taken-for-granted/ I’ve been doing talk radio for a while now and so I took a look back at what I’ve said on past Anzac Days. And I noticed that each year has a slightly different flavour — shaped, I suppose, by the news of the day, our shifting sense of global security, and our place in the world.  But one thing never changes: I always feel quietly grateful for the way this day draws New Zealanders together. Regardless of what side of politics you’re on, your background, or where you come from, Anzac Day seems to cut through the noise — reminding us of the sacrifices made by those who served, and how much we owe them.  It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when Anzac Day didn’t feature so prominently in our national consciousness. But more and more, younger generations seem to be reaching for something meaningful — something bigger than themselves. A shared story. And Anzac Day has become something that increasingly unites us: a moment that transcends political boundaries.  And maybe this year, the tone feels different again. There’s a growing sense that peace can’t be taken for granted — a sense we can’t be quite as complacent as we once were. Global tensions are rising, conflicts are escalating, and we’re reminded that our freedom isn’t just a lucky accident of geography. It’s something we have to choose to value, protect, and defend. Our Prime Minister recently visited New Zealand troops helping to train Ukrainian soldiers to defend their country. And as I watched that, it reminded me how we can never be complacent about our security and the need to stand up to aggressors. So this Anzac Day, I’m reflecting not just on the sacrifice of past generations, but on the freedoms we enjoy today. Including the fact that we live in a society where we can express our differences — where we don’t all have to sing from the same song sheet. Because in some parts of the world, that is the only choice people have. And that’s something we should never take for granted.   It’s worth remembering that.  Lest we forget. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:13:16 Z /on-air/holiday-breakfast/opinion/tim-beveridge-the-justice-system-comes-at-a-price/ /on-air/holiday-breakfast/opinion/tim-beveridge-the-justice-system-comes-at-a-price/ On Saturday, the front cover of the New Zealand Herald led with understandable outrage at the amount of money convicted sex offender Luca Fairgray spent trying to keep his name suppressed. That sum? $120,000. And it’s not hard to see why people are furious — watching someone pour that kind of taxpayer money into preserving their anonymity, only to be convicted anyway. And now we all know his name: Luca Fairgray — a man convicted of multiple serious sexual offences, including against a 13-year-old girl, all while he was still under interim name suppression for earlier crimes. There were also understandable arguments about the lack of funding for victims — and fair enough. But with the greatest respect, that’s a separate issue for a separate discussion. Now that we know the verdict, and we know the culprit’s name, it’s easy to look back and be appalled at how much money was spent — not just on his defence, but on his repeated attempts to remain anonymous. But here’s the thing: like it or not, I can’t imagine a fair justice system operating any other way. Because the most important thing is that we have a system we can have faith in. And faith in that system relies on knowing that people can defend themselves — whether or not they have the resources to do it. Otherwise, what are we looking at? A system where justice depends on your bank balance. Where your defence is only as strong as the cash you can throw at it. And for my part, I just don’t think we want to start deciding who gets access to justice based on an accused’s resources — or how much we loathe what they’ve been accused of. Because the alternative? Only the wealthy get to fight for their rights. Everyone else? Too bad. Guilty or not — you’re on your own. And look, in other aspects of life, sure — some people will always be able to afford to fly first class. But when it comes to justice, we’re not talking about airline tickets. We’re talking about outcomes that can redeem or destroy lives. There’s another aspect to this — and maybe it’s a bit churlish of me — but honestly, how on earth do you rack up $120,000 in legal fees just fighting for name suppression? I can’t help but wonder whether, in terms of the sheer quantum of money being spent here, we — or at least the system — is just taking the Mickey. Because $120,000? Just to argue about name suppression? That feels like the real scandal. But the rest of it? Luca Fairgray was convicted. Sentenced. And now, everyone knows who he is. We paid a price for it. But like it or not, it looks like that’s the price of a justice system we can believe in. Sun, 20 Apr 2025 19:38:35 Z