Hammering the MC
Friday, August 11th, 2017Mike Hosking for TVNZ election debate moderator? Doesn’t look like many would vote for him, even though he’s the best person for the job according to a very well-placed source. The problem is obvious. He is, in fact, biased. Apparently this doesn’t concern TVNZ, which seems remarkable right there. On the other hand, as Bill […]
A couple of significant defamation appeals
Tuesday, August 8th, 2017In defamation law, there are three basic defences. The first one, aptly called “truth”, protects you if you basically got it right. The second is called “honest opinion”. You can use it where you’ve clearly expressed an opinion, it’s honest, and its based on facts you have set out or which are generally well known. […]
Protection of journalists’ sources
Monday, August 7th, 2017Here’s a useful resource for journalists trying to communicate with confidential sources without leaving electronic (or other) footprints that might unwittingly burn them.
Is it possible that Todd Barclay did not commit an offence?
Tuesday, June 20th, 2017Newsroom has done a terrific job of trying to get to the bottom of the allegation that National MP Todd Barclay secretly recorded his former electorate agent Glenys Dickson. Newsroom claims Barclay left a dictaphone in the Gore electorate office and recorded Dickson’s side of phone conversations. It suggests that he may have recorded conversations […]
Open Government Partnership draft final report for New Zealand
Tuesday, January 10th, 2017I’ve mentioned that I’m the New Zealand researcher for the Open Government Partnership, an international organisation in which governments promise to implement action plans to increase government transparency and accountability. My draft final report is available for public comment here: http://www.opengovpartnership.org/country/comment-report/new-zealand-end-term-report-2014-2016-public-comment
Margaret Harkema welcomes TV3 defamation settlement and apology
Thursday, December 8th, 2016As some of you know, I act for Margaret Harkema, a dog and horse breeder in Hastings. You may also have seen the apology broadcast by TV3 at about 7pm last night, and repeated tonight. If you missed it, you can catch it again tomorrow night, or see it on the Newshub’s website for the next […]
OGP consultations underway
Thursday, August 4th, 2016If you are interested in transparency issues, then there’s a brief but significant chance for you to have some effect on government. The government has to draw up its action plan for open government under the Open Government Partnership by October. That plan is supposed to include commitments that improve transparency, accountability and public participation […]
Open Government Partnership report
Saturday, February 20th, 2016As many of you will know, in 2013 the NZ government signed up to the Open Government Partnership, a group of countries and civil society organisations that promises to take steps to improve transparency, accountability and public participation in governments. Governments have to submit two-yearly action plans, which are supposed to be “co-created” with the public […]
Open Government Partnership: Are we on the right track?
Wednesday, October 21st, 2015Here’s an op-ed piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago. I shopped it around the media, but they weren’t interested. You’d think the media might have the most to gain from debate about open government. (In the end, Scoop took it). At a meeting in the beating heart of the government precinct late last month, […]
Open government: did the government get it right?
Wednesday, October 14th, 2015The government has released its own draft self-assessment of its performance under the Open Government Partnership. It thinks its doing a pretty good job. Do you agree? The government is seeking comments until this Friday. You can give your views here: NZOGP_ActionPlan@ssc.govt.nz
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