Leao Tildsley: Why We Need To Know Graham Phillip And What Is Happening To Him

By Leao Tildsley

Graham Philip is an author, a talk show host, and a journalist living in New Zealand. I first met him when he was a talk show host on Free Speech Radio. Graham struck me as a kind, caring man, easy to chat with, knowledgeable, and enjoyable to listen to. With a modest following, he felt the need to prepare people for what he sees as a potential future for New Zealand.

A kind, caring man. And he has been locked up in Springhill prison for nearly seven months. Without trial. Denied bail twice.

So, what were his charges? Assault? Drug manufacture? Abuse? Treason??

No.

Instead, Graham’s charges are shocking when considering his time in lockdown in Springhill.

His first charge? Wilful damage. His second: Sabotage.

Not violence, not drugs, not fraud, not treason, not incitement.

Wilful damage. Sabotage.

On the 8th of December 2021, at 7 am, the police raided the Phillip family home, arrested Graham, lifted all electronic devices, and promptly sent him to jail. He has tried to represent himself in court, denied, and had to enlist a lawyer to fight his battles. He was placed in the notorious maximum security at Spring Hill for months, alongside the high-violence offenders, only recently being allowed to come down to a more appropriate.

On the 28th of June, over half a year after his imprisonment without trial, Graham finally had his appearance, albeit by zoom. He appeared with his lawyer and the crown to discuss bail for the third time. Because the precise details of the alleged crime have been suppressed, this has yet to be revealed publicly. Graham has never committed a crime before.

Several letters were sent to local MP Louise Upston, Peter Boshier (Chief Ombudsman NZ), Kelvin Davis (Corrections Minister), Chris Fafoi (former Minister of Justice) and the Department of Corrections. Little to no response has been received.

This kind of behaviour by the New Zealand Justice system is alarming. He has a right to due process; he deserves to be heard, given a fair trial, not quietly locked away indefinitely, gagged with suppression orders, and held in these horrific, traumatizing circumstances.

Is this the New Zealand we grew up in and loved?

And the kind of responses this case has had from government officials is shocking, along with the mainstream media having turned a blind eye to this injustice. This feels the same as the human rights breaches in Tokelau.

The many dangerous precedents for our future freedoms and rights are being done before our eyes here in New Zealand. The Graham Phillip case is vital to watch. If this can happen to this man, it can happen to anyone.

Since writing this article, Graham has been denied for the third time for his bail. The trial is set for May 2023.

Will he await trial in Springhill prison? Will his wife, becoming more distraught for the man she loves, be strong enough to hold the fort while the Justice system keeps him imprisoned? Will Graham have to watch as sexual offenders and killers are given Home Detention or bail while he must stay in his cell? What of his work? What of the Bill of Rights?

If this is not the New Zealand you once remembered and loved, I ask that you write to your local MP’s, the Human Rights Commissioner and demand a confrontation of this shocking injustice.

Graham Phillip.
Your voice will be heard through each one of ours.

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