HLM – Chapter 71 Old Wang Goes to Court

“Can you tell us about it?”

“Sure, no problem. First, I’d like to buy my girlfriend a sports car, a yacht, a big villa… and if possible, a private jet too.” Old Wang said cheerfully.

Monica nodded slightly, clearly impressed. “You’re really a good man and a great boyfriend. I wonder which lucky girl ended up with you. So, what’s your second wish?”

“I wish I had a girlfriend.” Old Wang’s tone deflated. The cameraman and lighting technician burst into laughter. Monica also smiled charmingly. “Wang, you really have a sense of humor. But are you sure you want to answer like that?”

Old Wang nodded. What humor? This had been his New Year’s wish for over twenty years—he was speaking the truth.

Shortly after Monica left, Lawyer Muller arrived.

Despite the scorching heat, the lawyer was dressed in a full suit, tie, and black leather shoes. Sweat was streaming down his face. As soon as he entered, he gulped down a glass of iced orange juice—it was clear that being a lawyer wasn’t easy either.

He handed a summons to Wang Bo and said, “Wang, the Oak City District Court has accepted your case. The hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday. Does that work for you?”

At this moment, money was the priority. Even if Old Wang had other things to do, he had to drop them for this case. After all, it involved a lot of money and the rights to use a section of a highway. Still, he looked to Charlie to ask for his opinion.

Charlie shrugged and said, “Go for it, buddy. Let’s sue New Zealand and teach those bastard politicians a lesson!”

New Zealand’s legal system is different from many other countries. It’s primarily made up of three components: First, social norms, which refer to widely accepted principles like justice, equality, and moral standards.

Second, statutory laws passed by parliament and regulations issued by the government.

Third, international treaties, which are agreements signed through international organizations and conferences, and become law once ratified by member states.

The country doesn’t have a complete written constitution. The 1986 Constitution Act serves a different role than traditional constitutions in other nations. New Zealand’s two most important legal sources are common law and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Muller explained that under common law, the New Zealand government had infringed on Wang’s rights during the highway construction. If they were determined enough, they might actually win some compensation.

New Zealand’s court system has four levels:

• District Court,
• High Court,
• Court of Appeal,
• and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the UK.

There are also specialized courts for specific issues, such as the Youth Court, Family Court, Employment Relations Authority, and the Māori Land Court, among others.

Wang Bo’s case only needed to go through the District Court, which has authority over economic cases with a monetary limit of 200,000 NZD. Since the land use fees for State Highway 8 are annual, the amount involved each year is around ten or twenty thousand NZD.

Still, Wang Bo found it hard to believe—can the District Court really judge a case against the national government?

Muller explained they weren’t suing the central government itself, but rather the Land Transport Authority, which was responsible for building the section of Highway 8 near Sunset Town. Filing the lawsuit in the Oak City District Court for infringement by the Land Transport Authority was just the first step. If they lost, they could appeal—skipping the High Court and going directly to the Court of Appeal.

All the necessary documents for the lawsuit had already been prepared. The court hearing was set for the first workday after the New Year holiday. New Year’s break lasted two days. On Tuesday, the weather, which had been bright and sunny for months, turned gloomy. Wang Bo and his group arrived at the Oak City Court.

Like most buildings in the small town, the Oak City Court wasn’t grand or imposing. It was a standalone four-story building, guarded by court officers. Above the entrance hung a large New Zealand coat of arms, and beside it was a sign that read:

“Together with God, We Defend Justice.”

But the lower half of the white sign was discolored, looking grayish and yellow. Old Wang found it strange and asked, “What’s up with the color of that sign? Does it mean something?”

Lawyer Muller chuckled, “It doesn’t mean anything. After Christmas, during one case, a Māori man was convicted and got upset. Instead of appealing, he poured gasoline on the sign and set it on fire.”

“Whoa, that guy’s intense,” Old Wang exclaimed.

Muller replied, “More like stupid. He was originally just convicted of theft—probably only a few months in jail. Now it’s destruction of public property and arson. His sentence went up to more than ten years. What an idiot.”

Old Wang: “…”

Before entering the courtroom, Muller gave Old Wang some instructions.

“You’re stepping into the territory of a packhorse, so choose your words carefully. Don’t speak unless I tell you to. Don’t say anything I haven’t coached you on.”

“Packhorse?” Old Wang was puzzled.

Muller patiently explained, “Sorry, forgot you’re new to New Zealand. ‘Packhorse’ is a nickname for the District Court because it handles so many cases. And you know how busy people usually have short tempers, right?”

Charlie chimed in to explain further. The four-story building housed not only the District Court, but also the Family Court and Youth Court. These specialized courts were there to share the District Court’s workload, which is why they were located nearby.

Don’t underestimate the District Court—it may be at the bottom of New Zealand’s judicial system, but it has substantial authority. It can handle almost all civil and criminal cases except for treason, murder, unlawful sexual conduct, and perjury.

They handle so many cases that they often can’t keep up, which is why auxiliary courts like the Youth Court exist to assist.

When they entered the courthouse, a bailiff stopped them. Muller seemed to be a familiar face there. He rolled down the window and didn’t even need to show the lawsuit documents—the bailiff simply led them to a waiting room. Other cases were still ongoing, and they’d be notified when it was their turn.

At 10:15 AM, a young female lawyer knocked on the door and gestured that it was time for them to enter the courtroom. Wang Bo was a little nervous—it was his first time in court after all.

He asked, “Hey guys, if I say something wrong… will they beat me up on the spot?”

“Definitely not. They wouldn’t be able to beat you anyway,” Charlie said confidently.

Lawyer Muller added, “But under no circumstances should you insult the judge. District Court judges are sacred. There are only about a hundred of them in the whole country. They are appointed by the Attorney General upon recommendation from the Minister of Justice. They represent national law—do not disrespect them.”

“Don’t worry, and don’t overthink it. Wang, just listen to me when the time comes. The trial procedure is actually simple: complaint, hearing, preliminary review, and verdict.”

By this point, they had arrived at the courtroom door. The bailiff opened it and they entered. Inside, a few people were scattered around the courtroom. The defendant’s seat was already occupied by two lawyers—one middle-aged white man and one young white man.