Articles
Vaccination certificates raise questions of privacy and trust
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”
Mandatory mask-wearing and record-keeping
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”
Video: Pulse of a Nation at New Echo Systems
NZCCL chairperson Thomas Beagle was a panellist with David Hood on the Pulse of a Nation session at the New … Keep reading “Video: Pulse of a Nation at New Echo Systems”
Aotearoa’s Data Strategy
In December 2020, the Council took part in a closed evaluation of Aotearoa’s Government Chief Data Steward’s (GCDS) 2018 … Keep reading “Aotearoa’s Data Strategy”
Chairperson’s Report 2020
Issues and Events in NZ
The Council started off 2020 well with our policy and strategy sessions putting us in … Keep reading “Chairperson’s Report 2020”
Urgency and overreach is not democracy
We are disappointed that the government recently passed a law that would have been highly contentious if it hadn’t been … Keep reading “Urgency and overreach is not democracy”
Media release: Government’s dangerous statement about encryption doesn’t make sense
Today the government announced that, while it supported the use of encryption on the internet, it was proposing to fatally … Keep reading “Media release: Government’s dangerous statement about encryption doesn’t make sense”
Joint calls for overhaul of OIA
The Child Poverty Action Group, Greenpeace, Forest and Bird, JustSpeak, New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties and Amnesty International are … Keep reading “Joint calls for overhaul of OIA”
2020 Election: what we’d like to see from the parties
The 2020 election is approaching and the political parties are starting to make their promises. Rather than score the parties' … Keep reading “2020 Election: what we’d like to see from the parties”
NZCCL response to the Covid-19 Public Health Response Bill
We were recently asked if we would provide feedback on the government’s draft Covid-19 Public Health Response Bill. This … Keep reading “NZCCL response to the Covid-19 Public Health Response Bill”
Co-signed: Statement on the COVID-19 response from civil society members of OGP Steering Committee
The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties endorses and co-signs the letter from the GOP Steering Committee about Covid-19 and its … Keep reading “Co-signed: Statement on the COVID-19 response from civil society members of OGP Steering Committee”
Guest post: Bail can’t be subverted for COVID-19 purposes
Douglas Ewen, barrister and member of the NZCCL, has written to Solicitor-General Una Jagose about what he views as unreasonable … Keep reading “Guest post: Bail can’t be subverted for COVID-19 purposes”
Pandemic response – recommended reading
Some useful articles about civil liberties during a pandemic. Last updated 7 May 2020.
Civil Liberties
Coronavirus Tech Handbook – … Keep reading “Pandemic response – recommended reading”
End the Police Armed Response Team trials
The NZ Council for Civil Liberties has co-signed the open letter from Just Speak calling for an end to the … Keep reading “End the Police Armed Response Team trials”
Civil liberties during a pandemic
There is no doubt that our government will need to take on exceptional powers to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic … Keep reading “Civil liberties during a pandemic”