Senior UK judges this month ruled the Australian publisher and activist can be extradited to the USA to face charges over his publication of confidential war documents. Mr Assange's legal team hoped New Zealand might play peacemaker in the WikiLeaks founder's extradition saga, by lobbying the US and UK.
New Zealand-based lawyer Craig Tuck called on Ms Ardern to make representations to US President Joe Biden or UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to end the "politically motivated prosecution".
"This is something our prime minister could address by picking up the phone to president Biden or prime minister Johnson and saying, 'Hey, enough's enough. Let's bury the hatchet and not in Julian's head'," Mr Tuck told Radio NZ. "Let's move on. This thing needs closure. There are issues of freedom, of kindness, of democracy (at play)."
Asked directly whether New Zealand had considered or might consider offering asylum to Mr Assange, Ms Ardern responded with a curt "No".
https://thewest.com.au/news/world/team-assange-appeal-to-nz-pm-ardern-c-4922947
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