McVicar returns to speak in Masterton

Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar is to speak at a luncheon titled "Tour of Duty" at the Masterton Club on Friday, April 22. PHOTO/FILE

Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar has been booked as a luncheon speaker at the Masterton Club.

Club manager Bill Johnson said the committee had decided to hold "more luncheons with guest speakers" and Mr McVicar was approached to launch the round of midday engagements.

Mr Johnson said he and his wife Bex had developed a working relationship alongside Mr McVicar at several events when they were living in Hawke's Bay, and "we believe that he's got a very good message".

"We certainly had a bit to do with him in Hawke's Bay and he is a very good speaker."

Mr Johnson said he had invited Mr McVicar to share some of his views and ideas, and he had dubbed the upcoming event the "Tour of Duty".

He said the lunch had been set down for midday on Friday, April 22, and the event would be open to the public.

Mr McVicar is a law and order lobbyist and victims' rights advocate who founded the trust in 2001. In 2011 he had spoken to various groups in Masterton, including at Rathkeale College, to help cement the formation of a trust branch and youth wing in the district.

He was at the same time establishing branches in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga, Christchurch and Te Awamutu.

Mr McVicar returned to Masterton the next year and again attempted to found a trust branch in the district to reportedly focus on the need for victims' rights to be the central plank of a Kiwi justice system that he said had lost its way in a maze of legislative reforms.