NZ should jettison `colonial relic'.

(From The Dominion Post)

Byline: JOHNSON Ann-Marie

KEEPING the Privy Council as its highest court will leave New Zealand as isolated as "a shag on a rock", constitutional law expert Sir Geoffrey Palmer says.

The Privy Council was a "colonial relic" and should be replaced by a New Zealand Supreme Court, Sir Geoffrey told Parliament's justice and electoral committee which is hearing submissions on the Supreme Court Bill.

Australia and Canada had abolished appeals to the Privy Council and even West Indian countries looked like they would sever the link, Sir Geoffrey said yesterday.

New Zealand's link to the Privy Council was an …