Former broadcaster and anti-vaccine campaigner Liz Gunn addresses supporters outside Manukau District Court, where she pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, resisting arrest, and trespassing, after attempting to film an on-camera interview at Auckland Airport in February. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine
Former broadcaster and anti-vaccine campaigner Liz Gunn has pleaded not guilty to three charges relating to an incident at Auckland Airport.
Gunn was arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest, and trespassing after attempting to film an on-camera interview at the airport in February.
Her camera operator, Jonathan Clark, was charged with resisting arrest and trespass.
He also pleaded not guilty in front of Judge Richard McIlraith at the Manukau District Court this morning.
They have been remanded on bail and will reappear on 7 June for a case review hearing.
Gunn, 63, who was wearing a wrist guard, was surrounded by supporters inside and outside the courtroom, including prominent anti-vaccination lawyer Sue Grey and wife of Destiny Church Founder Brian Tamaki, Hannah.
She requested the CCTV footage of the incident be released "in the interest of justice" as she claimed it would show she was the one who was assaulted.
"I would never be violent. The assault was on me."
Judge McIlraith told Gunn it would be up to her lawyer, Jeremy Bioletti, to obtain the footage.
In court, Gunn claimed she was the victim of a police assault at the airport which left her with migraines and a fractured wrist.
Gunn spoke to media after the hearing, criticising reporters for their work during the pandemic.
She made an impassioned plea to journalists in attendance to "report the truth" and accused some journalists of selling their souls for a pay packet.
"You are not government shills; stand up to your editors and tell the truth."
Gunn says the media is engaged in a cover-up with the government.
"We all know, millions of us across New Zealand know - you have ignored it."
Gunn made comparisons with Nazi-era Germany and communist Russia in regard to media propaganda being used to make the public fearful.
Supporters cheered in response.
