Nelson Weekly
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wednesday 24 november 2021
Life after a fall
King of Kohatu
Page 6
Page 23
Legal aid system ‘struggling’ Erin Bradnock Reporter
erin@nelsonweekly.co.nz
Hundreds of desperate Nelsonians in need of legal representation are having to be turned away as overloaded lawyers struggle to
cope with a system on “life support”. A new study has found that across the country 20,000 people seeking legal aid have been turned away, with one local lawyer saying that figure is likely a “conservative” one.
Steven Zindel from Zindels Barrister & Solicitor on New St says from his desk, he can hear the firm’s receptionist talking with desperate clients that they don’t have the capacity to take on. “It’s about three people turned away a day, so 15 a week and 700
within a year. Mainly family clients,” Steven says. He says he too often hears directly from someone in need of a lawyer who has already been turned away from other firms. “I have a Christchurch person who tried all 63 listed legal aid
providers in Christchurch on the Ministry of Justice website. He tried every available person and none would help,” he says. Managing solicitor for Nelson Bays Community Law Service,
see page 2
Stoke’s Youth Park a hit anticipation is building for the stoke Youth park which officially opens this Friday with a dawn blessing. Whanake Youth crew Fabian atkinson and Billie edgley gave the park a test run this week. Photo: Chris Symes/Shuttersport.
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