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Balance "about right" Hate Speech Inquiry told - 5-May-2005

New Zealand has the balance "about right" in relation to the freedom of expression and the protection of minority and vulnerable groups, the Human Rights Commission told the Inquiry into Hate Speech today "The vast majority of New Zealanders deplore hate speech and the harm it can cause individuals and groups. But legislation alone is limited in curbing the most harmful effects of hate speech. The Commission believes the promotion of positive relations between groups in society through education and public awareness are equally important," says Commissioner Judy McGregor. Read the full story/Visit the site - Human Rights Commission

Phil Goff: Censorship law no threat to freedom of speech - 28-Mar-2005

Stephen Franks' claim that anti-child porn legislation passed last month threatens the freedom of speech of all New Zealanders is complete rubbish. The Films, Videos and Publications Classification Amendment Act is largely focused on toughening up child porn laws. However, it also allows age restrictions to be placed on specific material to prevent harm to children or young people. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Stephen Franks: Censors given a law against hate speech - 22-Mar-2005

We already have a hate speech law, but so far it applies only to films, videos and the internet. Perhaps that is why newspapers paid no attention when it went through last month. But the one or two Select Committee members in the know at last week’s hearings in Auckland must have been choking with suppressed amusement. All those earnest submissions against future threats to free speech, yet a month ago Parliament gave the censors the power to ban Christians from using videos and films to teach their children anti-homosexuality views. That power was smuggled through in a bill to increase child pornography penalties. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald Related Site - ACT Party

Kerre Woodham: Attack boosts sales - 20-Mar-2005

I bet Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone wishes he had a nice, robust piece of hate legislation with which he could tie Dan Brown in knots. Dan Brown is, of course, the bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code, and it's this novel that's giving the cardinal conniptions. If you're one of the millions of people who've read the book, you'll know The Da Vinci Code revolves around the premise that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child, and their descendants are alive today. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Editorial: We need no law to define ‘hate’ speech - 19-Mar-2005

Is there no end to political correctness? Yes, fortunately, there is. An overwhelming majority of submissions to a parliamentary select committee in Auckland this week told the MPs that a law against "hate speech" would be a step too far. There is of course already a law against expressions which may incite racial disharmony. Those who sought a law against so-called "hate speech" wanted the same sort of protection to apply to religion, gender and sexual orientation. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Speaking freely - 18-Mar-2005

If the current select committee inquiry into the desirability of a "hate speech" law was intended merely to take the public temperature on the issue, then the submissions suggest that the mood is distinctly chilly. A hate speech law wasn't particularly likely before the inquiry, and seems less so now. Well and good. There are simply too many problems associated with extending the suppression of speech, including unintended consequences. But it hardly seems a bad move to have the discussion. And - vain hope I know - it would be nice to think that certain interest groups would match their right to speak freely with some measure of social responsibility. Read the full story/Visit the site - Russell Brown's Hardnews

Rod Emmerson: An unwelcome visitor - 18-Mar-2005

Cartoon about the Hate Speech Bill Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Backlash on hate speech proposal - 18-Mar-2005

Church leaders, academics, broadcasters and conservative groups are among a growing faction condemning proposed laws that would block all New Zealanders from expressing certain opinions. A parliamentary select committee yesterday held the first day of an inquiry in Auckland into possible legislation to ban "hate speech". An overwhelming majority of submissions slammed the proposals as a threat to freedom of expression and the democratic process. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Hate Speech is Bad Law - 17-Mar-2005

International experience shows hate speech legislation is bad law. After Christian Heritage NZ presented its submission to the select committee considering whether our country needs such legislation, CHNZ leader Ewen McQueen said “International experience shows that hate speech legislation invariably leads to decent law abiding citizens being dragged before the courts, simply for expressing valid political or religious opinions. That clearly shows it is bad law and we don’t need to go down that road in New Zealand.” Read the full story/Visit the site - Christian Heritage New Zealand

Opposition voiced to hate speech laws - 17-Mar-2005

Concern has been raised that hate speech laws would curtail freedom of speech. The Government Administration Committee was told today by opponents of any new legislation that hate speech laws are unnecessary. They said current laws already provide enough restraint on speech and publication. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Peter Saxton: Where to draw line on hate-speech law - 22-Oct-2004

As Australian Justice Michael Kirby states: "It is necessary for the law to achieve an equilibrium, apt to a democratic society, between freedom of expression and freedom from the harmful effects of unrestricted falsehoods." So where should the balance be struck here? With the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, vilification of the homosexual population and the sending of hate mail to Muslim communities, the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into hate speech was timely. Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Anti-gay hate rights under review - 21-Jun-2001

A parliamentary committee is considering whether films and publications containing "hate speech" should be banned. Censors say a gap in the law has allowed the unrestricted release of two Christian videos that contain anti-homosexual "hate speech." Read the full story/Visit the site - NZ Herald

Court of Appeal quashes ban on "anti-gay" videos. - 5-Sep-2000

The Court of Appeal has issued a landmark unanimous decision defending the "right to freedom of expression", including "the imparting of opinions of any kind" (s. 14, NZ Bill of Rights 1990). It ruled against a ban imposed by the Film and Literature Board of Review on two Christian videos Gay Rights/Special Right and Aids, upheld by the High Court on appeal, and both were found to have "erred in law" and their decisions quashed. The Board had reached a decision "which no reasonable Board properly instructing itself, could have made." Read the full story/Visit the site - Challenge Weekly

Court quashes ban on anti-homosexual films - 31-Aug-2000

The Court of Appeal has issued a landmark decision defending free expression and the "free flow of information and ideas" from censorship. The court has quashed a High Court ban of two fundamentalist, anti-homosexuality videos, saying the Film and Literature Board of Review and the High Court had misdirected themselves. Read the full story/Visit the site - The Dominion Post