Ka Whawhai Tonu Matau

Mr Scully is a magistrate who is seldom lost for words on his home, ground.

When he recently fined a young Samoan worker for getting into a police car he was quick with a side splitting quip about the defendant "entering the lion's den". And when the police drop a charge against a person in the dock he is often able to elicit some humour from the situation when he asks the defendant concerned if he minds the police doing this.

But even such a witty magistrate as Mr Scully meets his Waterloo occasionally. Last Friday a man appeared before him on a charge of fighting in a public place. "Guilty or not guilty?' asked the clerk. The defendant hesitated and then requested legal advice, referring to a small piece of paper as he did so.

"Give me a look at that!" demanded the magistrate, reaching for it eagerly. The paper was passed to his worship. Mr Scully read it quickly to himself, thought for a second and then began to read aloud to the crowded court room.

"What to say when you appear in the box brother: 1) Make no plea (crossed out); 2) I ask for a week's remand (crossed out); 3) I ask for legal aid; 4) I ask for bail (crossed out).

"Remember: If you are arrested brothers and put in can/jail all you can do is: 1) Give your name; 2) Give your address; 3) Give the work you do. Say F....k all else to the police unless a Nga Tamatoa legal defence officer or your lawyer is with you and has given the ok. Say nothing else until you have contacted Nga Tamatoa Legal Defence Office or your lawyer."

There was an odd silence in the court as Mr Scully read these words. A policeman obligingly sniggered and then — nothing. Mr Scully scratched his cheek and looked at the paper again. The court waited as he read and scratched. Two minutes went by. "All right, you can have legal advice," said Scully.

Perhaps he couldn't read the small print on the paper, or perhaps he read it and preferred to keep it to himself. It reads: "To defend our people against racist injustice in New Zealand. Ka Whawhai Tonu Matau Ake Ake Ake. Patu."