Appeal against assets forfeiture order made by the High Court on basis the judge erred in relying on inadmissible hearsay and/or non-expert opinion evidence from employees of Police asset recovery unit – conflicting High Court authority on whether rule 7.30 High Court Rules applies in a forfeiture context – issue not raised in the High Court – was there an implied agreement for the admission of the evidence under s 9 Evidence Act 2006?

Wright v Commissioner of Police [2025] NZCA 419

Mark Wright was convicted of three charges of importing methamphetamine at a jury trial in 2019. He unsuccessfully appealed his convictions in 2020.

In October 2020, the Commissioner of Police applied for and was granted restraining orders under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2019 (the Act) over Wright’s flat in Christchurch. The commissioner later examined Wright pursuant to an examination under s 107 of the Act in October 2021.