A group of former students has confirmed one of New Zealand's fundamental freedoms - the right to protest peacefully. Almost 12 years ago they were arrested in front of Parliament while protesting over education policies.
They argued they had done nothing wrong, but the matter has dragged through the courts ever since.
Now the police and Parliament are to apologise and pay the group more than $210,000 in compensation.
What this settlement proves is that while the Speaker may be in control of parliamentary grounds, he or she nevertheless must respect the rights of New Zealand citizens to peacefully protest on said grounds.
Graham Howell says the protest is an event he will never forget. He was one of 75 arrested and charged with trespass for participating in the 1997 demonstration.
"We were told to leave, but we were here protesting," he says. "We wanted to make our point and we chose not to leave and from there, the police I think overreacted."
Students were demonstrating against education reforms when the then Speaker, Doug Kidd, authorised police to arrest anyone who refused to leave the parliamentary grounds.
Of those arrested, 41 sued for wrongful arrest and human rights breaches. They will receive just over $210,000 in compensation, which means between $2500 and $5000 each after court costs.
It is alleged those arrested were also treated unfairly once in police custody. Along with the money, the police and the Speaker's office have agreed to formally apologise.
The protesters' lawyer says the settlement is a matter of principle.
"Rights are not valued very much in terms of money," says barrister Tony Ellis. "It's the vindication of the rights, the apology and the statement that something's wrong that's important. It's not a goldmine."
All trespass charges were dismissed, but it has taken almost 12 years for police and the Speaker's office to admit they were wrong.
"That you could possibly be removed from peacefully protesting in Parliament grounds, it was a shameful day," says Mr Ellis.
Lawyer Hayden Wilson was a protesting student back in 1997.
"I don't think it will shut us down at all," he said at the time. "If anything, it's just going to make us students more angry and more opposed to the tertiary review.
"It's ridiculous. Students or anyone protesting who isn't being violent or offensive can't protest in front of Parliament."
The cost of the settlement will be shared by police and the Speaker's office - in reality, the taxpayer.
It will take about six weeks for the formal apology to come through. All 41 plaintiffs need to sign the settlement deeds before the matter is finalised.
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