He Should Stay 'Sir Douglas'

There has been a lot said of Sir Douglas Graham, even before the Court Of Appeal rejected his, and his fellow directors, appeal against their convictions. 

But in my opinion Sir Graham should not be stripped of, nor pressured to give up, his knighthood. 

Yes, he was found guilty of making untrue statements in the prospectus of a finance company  for which he was a director, but it should be noted that the Judge said at the time, "I am satisfied that the accused genuinely believed in the accuracy and adequacy of the content of the offer documents when they were issued" but "the alleged offences are ones of strict liability so the Crown is not required to prove any form of mental intent to distribute documents that were false or misleading".


Two things about Sir Douglas stand out for me:

1. According to Susan Wood on Newstalk ZB today, Sir Graham himself lost $2 million dollars when the finance company collapsed.  $2 million dollars is a lot of money.  He didn't fleece investors for $2m which he pocketed, he lost his own money.  Yes, he signed off untrue statements, but as the judge said, not to intentionally rip anyone off.   It was a mistake, a costly mistake, and he has been tried and found guilty and will be punished in the courts as a result.

2. Sir Douglas earned his knighthood by leading New Zealand into an era of unprecedented healing and reconciliation.  Our Nation's history includes some very tragic and regrettable events.  Events where people, citizens of New Zealand, were subjected to some horrendous crimes.  Executions without trials, property confiscation, and illegal imprisonment.  It wasn't always one way traffic, but in the end there were definitely winners and losers.  Sir Douglas was the man who lead the parties through a process that began reconciliation.  Apologies were made, forgiveness was given, compensation was paid.

Sir Douglas managed to achieve things that no previous Minister had been able to do.  He earned his knighthood by being a humble, honest and decent man working in the service of all New Zealanders. In my opinion he has failed as a director, and he will be punished by the courts just like his colleagues.  But the work that earned him his knighthood will live on for generations.  That fact can never be changed.

It won't surprise me if he does give it up, or it is stripped.  New Zealanders are all too easily lead by a sensationalist media that is looking for a headline, and what better than seeing a mighty man fall. 

I hope he doesn't give it up, and I hope John Key resists the demands of the merciless media who call for Sir Douglas's head.

Sir Douglas, thank you for what you did to help heal the wounds of our nation.  We are indebted to you.
 
Cheers!