AGM – 3rd November 2021
Our AGM is to be held on 3 November 2021 at 6.00 pm (registration from 5:30pm) in the Common Room 3 at St Andrew's on The Terrace, 16 The Terrace, Wellington. Keep reading “AGM – 3rd November 2021”
Blog: Wide-ranging Content Regulation Review a threat to freedom of expression?
The government's Review of Content Regulation, in all its vast scope, is potentially the biggest threat to freedom of expression in New Zealand we've seen in years. I participated in the initial engagement sessions and came away concerned that the Department of Internal Affairs have bitten off far more than they can chew. Keep reading “Blog: Wide-ranging Content Regulation Review a threat to freedom of expression?”
Media release: Government secrecy on vaccination certificates is dangerous
The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties has today written to the Prime Minister expressing its deep concern about the secrecy surrounding the introduction of Covid-19 vaccination certificates. The Council has called for immediate publication of the information provided by the government to the events and hospitality sector, and the advice it has received from the Privacy Commissioner and officials who have looked at the human rights issues involved. Keep reading “Media release: Government secrecy on vaccination certificates is dangerous”
Letter to PM and Minister re vaccination certificates
The NZ Council for Civil Liberties is deeply concerned about the government's plans to introduce Covid-19 vaccination certificates and mandate their use for access to certain events and venues. This is a major imposition on civil liberties and takes our country in a new direction; as such it should be done carefully and with adequate protections for civil liberties.
While we understand the government's need to move at speed, we still expect that any such moves should be taken after as much consultation with the public, civil society groups, and Māori groups as possible. This is not happening and the government has been refusing requests for information about their plans.
We have written to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Minister for Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins to express our concerns and request this information. The text of that letter follows: Keep reading “Letter to PM and Minister re vaccination certificates”
Submission: Inquiry into Supplementary Order Paper 59 on the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill
The Council supports the rights and liberties of all people in Aotearoa New Zealand including their right not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender, gender identity, or sex characteristics. Keep reading “Submission: Inquiry into Supplementary Order Paper 59 on the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill”
Submission: – Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill
The Council supports the proposed criminalisation of conversion therapy. We have an obligation to protect the life, dignity, health and equality of LGBT+ persons. We recommend amendments to criminalise cosmetic gender assignment surgery on infants, to remove the loophole for health practitioners, and to add sentencing options other than prison. Keep reading “Submission: – Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill”
Submission: Inquiry into the current and future nature, impact, and risks of cryptocurrencies
Our submission to the Inquiry on cryptocurrencies says that people’s liberty and dignity are preserved when they are able to make personal purchases anonymously. Keep reading “Submission: Inquiry into the current and future nature, impact, and risks of cryptocurrencies”
Mandatory mask-wearing and record-keeping
The latest development is that the government has issued a new Public Health Order that tightens up the requirements and enforcement around both mask-wearing and record-keeping for the purpose of contact-tracing. Keep reading “Mandatory mask-wearing and record-keeping”
Submission: Maritime Powers Bill
Our submission on the Maritime Powers Bill says that if the govt takes actions outside our territory, our human rights legislation should still apply. Keep reading “Submission: Maritime Powers Bill”
Social: Civil drinks (postponed)
This has been postponed due to the national Covid lockdown.
We’re having a social gathering at Leuven Belgian Beer Cafe… Keep reading “Social: Civil drinks (postponed)”
Submission: Open Government Action Plan
The Council has suggested commitments for inclusion in the country's next National Action Plan as a member of the Open Government Partnership. These would strengthen our democracy, increase access to justice and increase oversight of intelligence activities, amongst other things. Keep reading “Submission: Open Government Action Plan”
Submission: Māori Electoral Option
The Council supports the right of all New Zealanders to vote in elections. In a democratic society, the denial of the right to vote to any section of the population has implications, in terms of devaluing citizenship and of possibly affecting electoral outcomes. Universal suffrage is the most basic criteria for an election to be deemed democratic. Keep reading “Submission: Māori Electoral Option”
Submission: Hate speech discussion document
The government promised changes to our little used hate speech laws after the Christchurch massacre. They have now released a discussion document with their proposals so that people can give initial feedback before a law is drafted. Keep reading “Submission: Hate speech discussion document”
SIS had access to Auckland city cameras
The Inspector-General of Intelligence Services has published a report into the NZ SIS’s use of security camera surveillance in Auckland. … Keep reading “SIS had access to Auckland city cameras”
Reforming NZ’s hate speech laws
Following up on the Cabinet Paper, the government has released a discussion document (PDF) to prompt feedback about their proposed … Keep reading “Reforming NZ’s hate speech laws”
Submission: Counter Terrorism BIll
The Council believes that human rights are the foundation of peace, and therefore of safety. We believe that this bill … Keep reading “Submission: Counter Terrorism BIll”
Admin: Website migration
We have migrated our website from Drupal to WordPress. This is a key step in enabling us to develop it … Keep reading “Admin: Website migration”
Video: Facial Recognition and Human Rights
Video from our Facial Recognition and Human Rights panel discussion on 2021/02/23 featuring:
- Dr Marcin Betkier, Law lecturer, co-author of
Media release: NZ Government enabling Facebook spying on New Zealanders
The New Zealand Government should not be helping Facebook to spy on New Zealanders. Yet by including Facebook supplied tracking … Keep reading “Media release: NZ Government enabling Facebook spying on New Zealanders”
Aotearoa Prison & Police Watchdog
Amnesty International, NZ Council for Civil Liberties and Just Speak invite you to an evening workshop to explore an initiative … Keep reading “Aotearoa Prison & Police Watchdog”