Taito Phillip Field
Phillip Hans Field MP | |
|---|---|
 Phillip Field (right) with Ian Revell and Max Bradford on a working trip to Nigeria. | |
| Leader of New Zealand Pacific Party | |
| Assumed office 15 April 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mangere | |
| In office 1996–2008 | |
| Preceded by | David Lange |
| Succeeded by | Su'a William Sio |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Otara | |
| In office 1993–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Trevor Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Seat Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 26, 1952 Apia, Samoa |
| Nationality | Samoa, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour Party New Zealand Pacific Party |
Phillip Hans Field is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangere. Following charges of bribery and perverting the course of justice, he was defeated in the New Zealand general election 2008. He was found guilty on some of the charges on 4 August 2009.[1] On the 6th of October 2009 he was sentenced to six years jail.
Early life
Born in Apia the capital of Samoa on 26 September,1952, he gained the name of Taito, the matai (paramount chief) title of the village of Manase on Savai'i, Samoa, in 1975. He has Samoan, Cook Island, German, English, and Jewish ancestry.[2] He functioned as a pioneering figure for Pacific Islanders while in the Labour Party.
Member of Parliament
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Otara | Labour | ||
| 1996–1999 | 45th | Mangere | none | Labour | |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Mangere | 14 | Labour | |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Mangere | none | Labour | |
| 2005–2007 | 48th | Mangere | 13 | Labour | |
| 2007–2008 | 48th | Mangere | Independent | ||
Field first became a Member of Parliament when elected by the South Auckland seat of Otara in the 1993 elections. He had stood for Otara in 1990 to replace Colin Moyle who was retiring, but with the swing against Labour in 1990 he was defeated by Trevor Rogers of the National Party.
From 1996 he has served as MP for Mangere, in succession to David Lange. He held the position of Minister outside Cabinet, with the portfolios of Associate Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, and Associate Minister for Justice until he was stood down in 2005.
In the 2005 general election, Field won a majority of more than 16,000 over his nearest opponent, Clem Simich of the National Party. This was the largest majority in any electorate seat in New Zealand.
Conflict of interest allegations
In 2005, Field was stood down from his ministerial posts following controversies around allegations that he had improperly used his influence as an MP to receive material gain. In particular, it was alleged that he had used his position as a Member of Parliament to obtain a work permit for a non-resident who had worked as a tiler at reduced hourly rates on his home in Samoa. It was also alleged that Field had used his position to obtain a discounted price for a property deal he had constructed with low-income welfare beneficiaries in his electorate. An inquiry cleared him of any conflict of interest, but did criticise his judgement over the events.[3]
Further allegations of improper behaviour were made by the Television New Zealand Sunday program on 27 August 2006, which led to Prime Minister Helen Clark saying that Field should reconsider his future as an MP.[4] Police launched an investigation the following day into claims that Field had benefited from helping people with immigration applications. Field was put on indefinite paid leave from Parliament by the Labour Party.[5] After Field made comments to the media that he might run against the Labour Party in a future election, steps were taken on 13 February 2007 by Labour to expel Field from the party.
Independent
On 14 February 2007, Field was formally expelled from the Parliamentary Labour Party. This was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Margaret Wilson. To forestall moves to expel him from the Labour Party, Field resigned on 16 February 2007, returning to Parliament as an independent, but promising to support the Government's legislative programme;[6] However, on 21 February, he voted against the Labour Party on Green MP Sue Bradford's Members' Bill to amend Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 (see Child Discipline Act 2007).
New political party
The Sunday Star-Times reported on 15 April 2007 that Field would form a new political party based on family values. Mr Field cited opposition to Sue Bradford's Bill to remove the defence for child discipline as an example of a "groundswell of Christian people" and stated "There is a vacuum, there is room for a political party... people are looking for a new vehicle."[7] Mr Field has also had meetings with Richard Lewis, leader of Destiny Church political party Destiny New Zealand, over a possible alliance.[8] In January 2008, Field moved to register the New Zealand Pacific Party.[9]
In the New Zealand general election 2008, Mr Field lost his seat to incoming new Labour MP Su'a William Sio, by 7126 votes. The New Zealand Pacific Party won 0.37% of party votes cast, well below the 5% threshold needed to gain list representation, so won no seats in Parliament.[10]
Corruption charges
On 24 May 2007, police announced that they would seek the leave of the High Court to lay corruption charges against Field (a necessary procedural step when such are laid in New Zealand). The offence, corruption and bribery of a member of Parliament, carries a maximum sentence of 7 years' imprisonment. If Field was convicted while still a member, his Parliamentary seat would be vacated.[11][12]
At a press conference following the police announcement, Field asserted his innocence of the charges and expressed his intention to fight both the laying of the charges at the leave hearing, and any charges that might result from the police application.[13][14] On 5 October 2007 the High Court ruled that the Police could lay corruption charges against Field.[15] The Thai tiler at the centre of the corruption allegations, Sunan Siriwan, has also announced he will sue Field for $200,000 compensation for the year's work he undertook on Field's property in Samoa.[16]
Field appeared in court on 26 November 2007 to 15 counts of bribery and 25 of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and was released on bail without entering a plea.[17] After a depositions hearing in mid 2008, he was remanded to the High Court for trial on 40 charges.[18] On 20 April 2009, his trial commenced on 35 charges, 12 for corruption and bribery as a member of Parliament and 23 for wilfully perverting the course of justice. On August 4, 2009, Field was found guilty of 26 charges at the High Court in Auckland. The ten member jury found Field guilty of 11 of the 12 bribery and corruption charges, and 15 of 23 charges relating to attempting to pervert the course of justice. [1]
6th October 2009 Phillip Field jailed for six years on corruption charges, with the sentencing judge saying his offending threatened the foundation of democracy and justice.
Illegal building
Field and his company TP Field Developments admitted illegally converting a garage into a family room and a carport into a garage at a Papatoetoe residence and were fined a total of $20,000 plus costs in 2008.[19]
Political offices
References
- ^ a b Andrew Koubaridis (4 August 2009). "Guilty verdicts for Phillip Field".
- ^ Haas, Anthony (2006). "Tackling Pacific Island problems from within the parliament". Asia Pacific Economic News. Archived from the original on 2009-04-15.
- ^ "Inquiry questions MP Field's judgment". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "Clark says Field's future as MP in doubt". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "Supporters welcome police investigation into Field". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "Labour to get Field's vote despite resignation". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ Sunday Star-Times. "Dumped MP bases new party on family". Fairfax. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ Newstalk ZB. "Destiny Church and Phillip Field alliance?". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "Field moves to register 'Pacific Party'". Fairfax New Zealand. 20 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ 2008 election official results
- ^ "Police seek to charge Taito Phillip Field with bribery". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Taito Phillip Field case: The law". Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "TVNZ coverage of press conference". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Taito Phillip Field: I have not broken the law". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Field to face corruption charges". Stuff.co.nz. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
- ^ "Tiler to sue Taito Phillip Field". New Zealand Herald. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ "MP bailed on bribery charges". New Zealand Herald. 26 November 2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Eames, David (9 May 2008). "MP to stand trial on bribery, corruption charges". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "MP guilty of illegal building". New Zealand Herald. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-06.