Articles

Libertarians slam new law forcing witnesses to speak up	NZ HERALD 4:00AM Saturday Jul 04, 2009 A new bill that would force people to reveal relevant evidence will leave citizens without protection and give the state total power, say civil libertarians. The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties has labelled the Search and Surveillance Bill - recommended by the Law Commission and tabled in Parliament on Thursday - a "chilling piece of legislation" that takes away a person's right to silence unless convicted of an offence. Main changes recommended in the bill include:
NZCCL in the News	NZCCL appears in the news from time to time, these are some of those articles.
United Nations Special Rapporteur	In 2008, the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties and its former President, Tony Ellis lodged a complaint with the United Nations Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers against Elias CJ, Tipping J and Blanchard J and the New Zealand Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
‘Three Strikes’ legislation	The Sentencing and Law Reform Bill 2009 advocates that a ’Three Strikes’ policy is introduced in New Zealand. This policy would provide an automatic prison term of 25 years without parole for a third offence (excluding minor offences). The Bill advocates sentences out of proportion than the crime committed and focuses on punishment rather than rehabilitation. The policy advocated in the Bill has only little potential effect in protecting the community, and would lead to many people being constrained in prison to no good effect either to them or to the community.
Falun Dafa and Wellington City Council	This article outlines instances of systemic discrimination against the Falun Dafa Association by the Wellington City Council over the last two years. This discrimination, involving refusal for the organisation to participate in various parades and other public events, appears to be motivated by the desire to maintain good relations with China, but is in effect condoning and supporting China’s repression of the organisation within China.
Current Articles	These are the civil liberties issues we are currently involved in.
Antisocial test for children backed	NZ HERALD 5:00AM Friday Jan 25, 2008 Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro strongly supports measures to vet young children for targeted help if they show antisocial behaviour. She says vetting will not only mean that kids who need help get it and possibly prevent them getting into more trouble or crime later but their fellow pupils will get a better education… New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties chairman Michael Bott raised concerns the plan would take the state further into private family matters.

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