New Zealand

Ted Dawe’s young adult novel “Into the River” has fallen foul of the Christian lobby group Family First, which pressured the New Zealand Film and Literature Board of Review into putting an interim restriction on the book.

From private disagreements to a viral video of police brutality, a whistleblower’s leak or a heartfelt political call to arms: if the full spectrum of human expression happens to be expressed online, the HDC Act applies.

Ten Pacific countries are listed in media reports as being targets of spying by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau, which gives the NSA full access – and control – over the data.

Police recently raided the home of New Zealand investigative journalist Nicky Hager to search and seize property. The aim of the search was to identify the person who provided information used in his recent book “Dirty Politics”.

New Zealand is under fire for tracking the phone records and movements of a journalist who was ironically writing about potentially illegal government surveillance.

Radio New Zealand has refused demands to hand over unpublished news material related to a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and a candidate in the country’s general election.

“As a regional leader, New Zealand decision makers need to be aware there are wider implications, including whether they are setting a precedent for partner countries,” said PFF.

If the bill proceeds in its present form, it will force the country’s journalists to answer police questions or hand over documents such as media sources and notes, IFJ said.

PFF is encouraging the management of Pacific Islands radio station Niu FM 531pi to launch an investigation into the suspension – and then reinstatement – of veteran Fiji journalist Bulou Amalaini Ligalevu.

(PINA/IFEX) – Cook Islands has launched the country’s Official Information Act (OIA) implementation plan, reports “Cook Islands News”. “We are the first Pacific Island jurisdiction to introduce a freedom of information regime and there is a lot of interest from other Pacific Island countries who are considering a similar thing,” said deputy Prime minister Sir […]

(PINA/IFEX) – Newspaper publisher John Woods was convicted in the Rarotonga High Court on two charges of contempt of court, reports Cook Island News. Fines amounting to approx. US$60 and court costs were imposed on Woods. The convictions were handed down against the 55-year-old Arorangi resident by Justice of the Peace John Kenning. Both charges […]

Freedom of the Press 2007: New Zealand

(IPI/IFEX) – In a 26 November 2001 letter to Prime Minister Helen Clark, IPI condemned the recent decision of the New Zealand government to include a criminal defamation provision in its Electoral Amendment Bill (No.2). According to the information provided to IPI, on 15 November, Member of Parliament (MP) Margaret Wilson, the New Zealand associate […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 17 June 2001, Prime Minister Terepai Maoate urged Cook Islands news media to form a self-regulatory media council and warned that he would otherwise appoint one himself. The regional news service PINA Nius Online reported that Maoate told a group of Pacific Islands editors that in the past two years he has […]