I was reading an article which directed me to the MoJ website where I learned that there is no basic right of compensation in NZ for being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.

This seems contrary to the much-vaunted Kiwi notion of fairness, as well as to pretty much any definition of natural justice etc I can think of.

Is there a reason for what appears to be a fundamental omission? It may be cultural/historic and not having grown up here I just may be unaware, which is why I ask.

I'm all for locking up crims and throwing away the key - but if a mistake is made, it does not seem right that someone might be deprived of liberty, employment, family life and so on for a period of years - or even decades - without being entitled fundamentally to financial redress.