Detention for threats to official
A man’s deep suspicion of authority figures led him to threaten the Privacy Commissioner, his family and his staff, a court has heard. Michael Tairakena, 47, was sentenced to three months’ community detention and six months’ supervision in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday for two incidents, involving charges of criminal harassment and assault. Tairakena sent several letters to the commissioner, John Edwards, between February and June last year, threatening to have him punched in the head, having already sent abusive letters to his office in the past. He repeatedly referred to his status in a gang, the name of which is suppressed, as confirmation he could carry out the attack. In one letter, he called Edwards an ‘‘egg’’ and said he ‘‘needed a punch in the head’’. He said the commissioner was above the law, that his behaviour needed correcting and, if he wanted to stay safe, it was in his best interests to listen to Tairakena’s complaints. The court was not told what Tairakena’s problem with the commissioner’s office was. Edwards refused to comment when contacted by Stuff, but, in a victim impact statement, said he hoped Tairakena was held accountable for his actions. He did show some sympathy, saying he knew many complaints to the office came from disadvantaged people who felt they weren’t being listened to. ‘‘Some people aren’t treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,’’ his statement explained. This was the first complaint Edwards has handed to police. But he couldn’t ignore the threats to his staff and family, he explained. In the second incident, Tairakena dislocated a female security officer’s shoulder and severely sprained her wrist. The assault occurred when the officer was changing his electronic bracelet. Judge Stephanie Edwards said the officer was still in a sling two months later and is taking medication for possible nerve damage. The judge said the officer had stated in her victim impact statement that the incident made her paranoid and that she didn’t feel safe at work. The judge said Tairakena had taken significant steps to turn his life around, including becoming a ‘‘poster boy’’ for an intensive client support programme. Tairakena, for the first time in his life, is in fulltime employment, visits the gym twice a day and has deterred his son from drug and alcohol addiction.