Nov 7th – Let’s Talk: new govt & new year
Come and join an informal chat about civil liberties over food/drink at the Southern Cross Bar in Wellington. This time’s … Keep reading “Nov 7th – Let’s Talk: new govt & new year”
thomas@nzccl.org.nz
Submission: Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill
We oppose this bill because expanding criminal responsibility and the associated search and forced body sample regime to 12-13 year olds is unjust and a breach of international justice standards. Keep reading “Submission: Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill”
Submission: Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill
While disappointed it's not for national elections as well, we support the Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill to lower the voting age for local body elections to 16. Keep reading “Submission: Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill”
The Founding and Early History of the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties
An interesting and informative history of the founding and early history of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties, presented as a talk by Lindsay Ferguson at our 2021 AGM. Keep reading “The Founding and Early History of the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties”
Submission: Corrections Amendment Bill
The Corrections Amendment Bill sets new rules around the use of non-lethal weapons in prisons, updates the methods used for the interception of prisoner communications, and allows for the mixing of remand and convicted prisoners in some situations. Keep reading “Submission: Corrections Amendment Bill”
Submission: Content Regulation review
Read our response to the DIA's content regulation review. Keep reading “Submission: Content Regulation review”
Aug 15th – Let’s talk: online content review
Come have a chat about civil liberties over food/drink at the Southern Cross Bar in Wellington. This week's topic: online content regulation. Keep reading “Aug 15th – Let’s talk: online content review”
Let’s Talk: Police oversight and the toothless IPCA
Is oversight of the police working in New Zealand? The IPCA (Independent Police Conduct Authority) can investigate complaints but the … Keep reading “Let’s Talk: Police oversight and the toothless IPCA”
Let’s Talk: facial recognition
How do you feel about the increasing use of facial recognition in public places? Should supermarkets be allowed to use … Keep reading “Let’s Talk: facial recognition”
Event 13 April – Strengthening Democracy through Open Government
As you will have seen from our work over the last couple of years, NZCCL has put considerable effort into … Keep reading “Event 13 April – Strengthening Democracy through Open Government”
Media release: Government passing Returning Offenders Bill under urgency tramples our rights
Tonight the government is using urgency to erode New Zealander’s right to justice. It’s passing the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Bill through all three stages in one session, thus avoiding scrutiny and the democratic responsibility to consult on legislation. Keep reading “Media release: Government passing Returning Offenders Bill under urgency tramples our rights”
Submission: Human Rights (Incitement on Ground of Religious Belief) Amendment Bill
The full text of our submission to the Justice Select Committee opposing the Human Rights (Incitement on Ground of Religious Belief) Amendment Bill. Keep reading “Submission: Human Rights (Incitement on Ground of Religious Belief) Amendment Bill”
Opposing the Human Rights (Incitement on Ground of Religious Belief) Amendment Bill
The first reading of the Bill to add religious belief to New Zealand’s hate speech laws in the Human Rights … Keep reading “Opposing the Human Rights (Incitement on Ground of Religious Belief) Amendment Bill”
Biometric technology
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner recently ran a consultation about the use of biometric technology in New Zealand. As … Keep reading “Biometric technology”
Wellington City Council shuts down protest march with fees
We are very disturbed to hear that the Wellington City Council has shutdown a planned political protest march by proposing … Keep reading “Wellington City Council shuts down protest march with fees”
The IPCA has had enough of being ignored
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has taken the opportunity to say that it needs substantially more powers to do its job of overseeing Police conduct. Keep reading “The IPCA has had enough of being ignored”
Media release: Last chance to fix the Data and Statistics Bill
With the overreaching Data and Statistics Bill going to the Committee of the Whole House this week, the NZ Council for Civil Liberties has written to MPs asking them to pass amendments to fix the worst aspects. Keep reading “Media release: Last chance to fix the Data and Statistics Bill”
Submission: Review of the Search and Surveillance Act
The government is in the early stages of reviewing the Search and Surveillance Act. Our submission suggest areas where it needs work, both to correct the mistakes of the past as well as to prepare for the future. A significant theme in our submission is the need for better oversight. Keep reading “Submission: Review of the Search and Surveillance Act”
The Ombudsman’s reply
Yesterday, the Council wrote to the Ombudsman, Peter Boshier, to complain about the decision made in his name to close our complaint against the former Minister for Covid-19 Response.
The Ombudsman has replied to the Council, apologising for the management of our complaint, re-opening the matter, and undertaking to conduct an investigation.
The text of the Ombudsman’s reply is below. Keep reading “The Ombudsman’s reply”
Failure to investigate an OIA complaint. Can complaints survive a reshuffle?
The Ombudsman sat on our OIA complaint for 7 months before dropping it because Chris Hipkins wasn't the Covid-19 Minister any more. Our response to the Ombudsman, asking him to reconsider and finally investigate the refusal. Keep reading “Failure to investigate an OIA complaint. Can complaints survive a reshuffle?”