Papers are to be filed with the High Court next week over the secrecy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.
Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey Photo: RNZ / Philippa Tolley
A group led by Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey will file for a judicial review over Trade Minister Tim Groser's refusal to release information under the Official Information Act.
Professor Kelsey said they would have liked the case taken earlier but needed to get a response from the Ombudsman's Office to their complaint, which was only delivered two days ago.
She said while the Ombudsman did not uphold their complaint, she believed the group had a strong case.
"The Official Information Act was created to replace the Official Secrets Act," she said.
"The approach that the minister is taking now reinstates the old approach of keeping documents secret that have really significant consequences for New Zealanders, and that denies New Zealanders the right to participate democratically in an informed way in decisions that affect them."
The deadline for the conclusion of TPP negotiations in Hawaii is tomorrow.
