Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has been ordered to pay more than $17,000 in costs to a woman he tried to sue for defamation.
Colin Craig in court. Photo: RNZ / Edward Gay
Mr Craig tried to sue his former employee, Jacky Stiekema, for $240,000 over comments she had made on Facebook in September 2015.
But the case was thrown out by a District Court judge, who said Ms Stiekema's comments had not been widely disseminated, and they were unlikely to have had any effect on Mr Craig's reputation.
In a decision released today, Judge Harrison awarded Ms Stiekema $17,600 in costs.
Mr Craig has appealed the judge's original decision to throw out the case.