Well, you would be, wouldn’t you?
Monday, February 20th, 2012Lovely NZ Herald headline: Man critical after being set on fire
Offensive offence
Thursday, February 16th, 2012A few years back, the censor banned this T-shirt (scroll down) depicting a masturbating woman and the words “Jesus is a cunt”. I questioned the ban. Now the retailer who sold the T-shirts has been convicted for possessing them. I note that this offence also applies to everyone who owns such a T-shirt, whether they wear it […]
Lawyer’s name suppression bid fails
Monday, February 13th, 2012Criminal lawyer Barry Hart’s long attempt to have his name suppressed for his disciplinary tribunal charges has failed at the final hurdle, having also failed pretty much all the hurdles before that. The Supreme Court said: The likely particular impact of publicity on [the person applying for suppression] will always be relevant, but it is […]
Online defamation: is it any different?
Monday, January 30th, 2012This is my column in NZ Lawyer magazine for 27 January 2012. Are the laws of defamation different online?I’m picking this question is going to garner increasing debate in the next few years. The answer, of course, is straightforward. Ask any blogger (they are seldom shy of venturing legal opinions) and they’ll tell you that […]
Silly old TVNZ
Friday, January 27th, 2012This is why I don’t like doing TV. I gave TVNZ news an interview on the teapot saga yesterday, explaining my views as below that the risk is low for anyone who publishes the contents of the tape. Their broadcast asserts as a fact that “we can’t broadcast what was said for legal reasons”. Later […]
Teapot pours out
Thursday, January 26th, 2012Someone’s put the teapot tape online. That’s the conversation between the PM and ACT candidate John Banks that cameraman Bradley Ambrose said he inadvertently recorded, during the most covered cuppa in NZ history. The media, and even many bloggers, seem hesitant about linking to it. I’m not. Here’s why. Put aside the question of whether […]
Confessions of a tabloid journalist
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012For those who just caught be on Nine-to-Noon, those who’ve read Nick Davies’ excellent Flat Earth News, and those who are just interested in what goes on behind the scenes at UK tabs, here’s an insider’s expose, from former Daily Star journo Richard Peppiatt, who gave evidence to the Leveson inquiry. Highlights: journalists never take […]
Public expectations and media standards
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011The Law Commission suggests that its proposed independent media regulator consult with the public to establish what their expectations are of journalistic standards, so that these can be reflected in the structures and ethics codes it draws up (see paras 5.93 and 6.95). Is this really the right question? I rather doubt it. If you’re […]
Law Commission’s new media paper
Monday, December 12th, 2011The Law Commission has issued an issues paper on reform of news media and new media regulation. This isn’t a final report; they’re looking for feedback on their proposals. I think it’s a thougthful and well-researched paper. It’s very much alive to the problems of online regulation and the importance of free speech and the […]
Should the Treasury asset-sales advice have been released?
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011The Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem says no. OIA expert John Edwards isn’t so sure. He provides a thorough and thoughtful analysis of her decision here. Under the OIA, you’re entitled to see almost any information held by the government just by asking for it. To withhold information, the government must point to one of the specific […]
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