12 Feb 2019

Judge mulls authority of Tokelau High Court

3:52 pm on 12 February 2019

A Tokelau High Court judge says he's not sure he has the authority to reverse decisions by the territory's government.

18072016 Photo: Rebekah Parsons-King. Wellington High Court.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The comments from Judge Peter Churchman came during a landmark hearing of the High Court, which is sitting in New Zealand.

Two former public servants accused of misspending millions of dollars are seeking to prove their dismissals were wrongful.

Judge Churchman told the court today he may have the jurisdiction to come to a finding on the claims.

But he said he was unsure if he could quash the Tokelau government's move to fire the pair in 2017.