The Law Society’s ‘Culture Change Taskforce’ has met for the first time on its commitment to ‘drive and guide systems and culture change within the legal community’.

The Taskforce was one of the Law Society’s initiatives in response to its Legal Workplace Environment Survey which was released in late May. The survey showed nearly one in three female lawyers has suffered sexual harassment at work and more than half of all lawyers have been bullied in the workplace.

A 20-year-old man accused of sexual assaults at a Labour Party summer camp has had two charges against him withdrawn. 

The man was arrested in June and appeared in the Auckland District Court where he originally pleaded not guilty to six charges of indecent assault relating to four complainants. 

The arrest came after allegations a man sexually assaulted four teenagers, aged 16 to 18 years old, during the Waihi camp in February. 

The man charged with indecently assaulting people at a Labour Party youth camp has been allowed to keep his name secret until the end of any trial.

Police did not oppose continued name suppression at a hearing this afternoon in the Auckland District Court.

His lawyer, Emma Priest, told Judge Russell Collins she was not seeking permanent suppression at this stage, but left open the possibility of applying for it in future.

Find your people: Join a chambers (or at least have strong networks). I would not do without our chambers lunches and margarita Mondays (though not every Monday!). Law is hard work. Having great chambers mates to talk your files through with, get advice from and moral support when things go to custard is invaluable. It also helps you keep up-to-date with the law. We also share resources (PO box, doco bins, copiers, internet, cleaners, etc).

A 20-year-old man accused of sexual assaults at a Labour Party summer camp has pleaded not guilty and been granted name suppression. 

The man was arrested earlier this month and appeared in the Auckland District Court on Thursday facing six charges of indecent assault relating to four complainants. 

The arrest came after allegations a man sexually assaulted four teenagers, aged 16 to 18 years old, during the Waihi camp in February. 

"I went way over board this time."

That was the text Avi Raaj Prasad sent after his 8-year-old victim's skin peeled away - it was the final act in abuse the Crown called "cruel and sadistic".

The boy had suffered burns to about 20 per cent of his body after being held under a hot shower on March 25 last year.

That included burns to his chest and abdomen, right upper arm, both upper thighs and bottom.

An Auckland man has appeared in court for allegedly injuring a High Court judge.

James Lawrence Beaumont Gilliland has been charged with injuring a woman "with reckless disregard for the safety of others".

The alleged victim is Justice Mary Peters, who is a judge at the High Court in Auckland.

A man who brutally beat his 69-year-old neighbour to death and then, as she lay dying and unresponsive, sexually assaulted her twice, has been unsuccessful in his bid to appeal his sentence.

A man who admitted burning evidence in an incinerator to help his murder-accused brother in-law "got lucky" when his conviction was quashed today after a jury found there was legally no murder, says a law professor.

Three prisoners who violently attacked their guards will spend an extra three and a half years in jail.