Posts Tagged ‘law’

Julian Assange and the Streisand Effect.

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 pm, January 7th, 2019 - 161 comments

Wikileaks has tried to silence media organisations on behalf of Julian Assange. Why is a ‘transparency’ organisation opposed to free speech and have they made things worse for the Aussie hacker?

UPDATE: The list has been leaked. Link in post.

Metiria Turei and Paula Bennett on benefit fraud

Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, July 17th, 2017 - 241 comments

Turei’s admission that she lied to WINZ back in the day was a political gamble. It could resonate with a big chunk of non-voters – here’s a politician that’s just like us – has been through what we’re going through. On the other hand it gives the usual mean-spirited righties a club to beat her with. Interesting that Paula Bennett is treading so lightly round the issue.

Bridges and flouting the OIA

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, June 17th, 2017 - 18 comments

Simon Bridges tried to block the release of a report on a Kiwirail proposal. The Ombudsman warns against flouting the Official Information Act. But it’s a well established pattern of behaviour with this government.

Canada

Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, April 14th, 2017 - 20 comments

Every once in a while, an administration that doesn’t check it’s collective brain out at the door assumes office. That may be the case with Canada’s current government.

Chris Cairns: Song of the Tall Poppy

Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, December 1st, 2015 - 111 comments

The Chris Cairns trial verdict seems to have surprised Kiwis. And some people don’t seem to want to accept he is not a match fixer. Are we that fooled by modern media that our usual decency and sense of fair play has deserted us?

Technology and the law – and going after Hager

Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, October 29th, 2015 - 214 comments

A recent supreme court ruling that a “stored sequence of bytes” constitutes property is pretty bizarre – and it seems to be being used to go after Nicky Hager.

Court’s decision on TPP OIA has both Nats and Ombudsman squirming

Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, October 15th, 2015 - 23 comments

The High Court recently found that Government and Tim Groser improperly considered Prof. Jane Kelsey’s application for information concerning the TPPA negotiations. The Nats aren’t happy. The Ombudsman isn’t happy. Tough.

National’s law ruled a violation of human rights

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, July 25th, 2015 - 16 comments

The High Court has ruled that a law passed by National in 2010 is a violation of the Bill of Rights Act. This is a first for NZ, and another “proud” item to add to National’s legacy.

Key’s reputation and the law

Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, September 15th, 2014 - 26 comments

An interesting article by lawyer Steven Price at Media Law Journal.  Some extracts quoted, but well worth going and reading the full article.

Conscience exceptions are for people with a conscience

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 pm, July 14th, 2013 - 63 comments

The ability of doctors to refuse to provide proper healthcare if God says it’s bad is again in the spotlight, with a Blenheim GP refusing to prescribe the Pill to a patient because he decided she needed to have babies, and her views on the matter don’t mean shit.  But are we seriously going to label that as an act of “conscience”?

Banks sued over exceptional bank fees

Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, March 11th, 2013 - 88 comments

New Zealand banks face  a large class suit for over $1 billion in default fees over the past six years by three of NZ’s largest law firms in a case being announced today at 1pm. It is about time.

NRT: Imperial over-reach

Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, October 15th, 2012 - 10 comments

Should have reposted this last week – NRT on a bizarre and scary US legal opinion.  Thoughtcrime will be next…

Youth Court Judge speaks out, sky doesn’t fall

Written By: - Date published: 3:08 pm, July 31st, 2009 - 14 comments

A couple of weeks ago Justice Minister Simon Power slammed Chief Justice Sian Elias for commenting on possibilities of change in the criminal justice system. He was unimpressed that the Chief Justice would dally into the realm of policy when it is the job of judges to apply the law, not to make it. Setting […]

Open justice

Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, March 6th, 2009 - 19 comments

David Bain’s retrial begins in Christchurch today. Yesterday the Judge held that certain web-based newspapers may screen delayed video coverage of the trial, but he declined TV3’s application to live-stream it. The present guidelines for court coverage, which date from 2003, are simply silent on the internet medium, and the Judge said that since the […]

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