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Summarised by Centrist
A District Court judge is in the hot seat after intervening in an event, accusing Winston Peters of lying and invoking the authority of fellow judges, in what critics say is a clear breach of judicial neutrality.
The incident occurred in November 2024 at Auckland’s Northern Club, where Winston Peters was speaking at a NZ First fundraiser. As Peters addressed the audience, District Court Judge Ema Aitken challenged comments she overheard about tikanga Māori, telling attendees: “He’s lying. How can you let him say that?”
She also referred to “a room full of judges” nearby who would hold a different view.
Judge Aitken disputes parts of that account, saying she did not shout, did not enter the room, and did not initially realise the speaker was Peters.
She claims she was walking past the event after taking a wrong turn and reacted to what she believed was an incorrect statement about tikanga Māori overriding the Westminster legal system.
She says she made the comment in a normal voice and intended it as a disagreement with the claim, not as political intervention.
The situation escalated into what has been described as a “rolling fracas”, involving Judge Aitken’s husband, intensive care specialist David Galler, who allegedly berated NZ First MP Casey Costello.
Galler has since apologised for his conduct. Judge Aitken has also acknowledged her behaviour was rude and inappropriate, though she rejects characterisations of the incident as disruptive or politically motivated.
