Former political figure loses bid for name suppression after abuse conviction

A former political figure who sexually abused two teenage boys in the late 1990s has lost his request for permanent name suppression after being sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. He plans to appeal the decision. Despite losing the name suppression bid, his name remains confidential due to his appeal. His lawyer argued for continued suppression, citing the man's mental health and media coverage as reasons for "extreme hardship." The court ruled that the grounds for ongoing suppression were not met, and both survivors opposed further secrecy. A proposed law change in New Zealand would allow survivors to decide on name suppression for convicted sex offenders.