Douglas Ewen 1967 – 2024
Douglas Ewen KC, who died on 4 August, was a long-time member of the Council and served on its Executive Committee. Keep reading “Douglas Ewen 1967 – 2024”
Submission: Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill
The Council opposes the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill as it infringes on our civil liberties while not providing sufficient justification for doing so. It seems to us that the bill is more about political signalling than improving our justice system. Keep reading “Submission: Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill”
Keith Locke 1944 – 2024
Prominent NZCCL member, MP, and activist Keith Locke has died at the age of 80. Keep reading “Keith Locke 1944 – 2024”
10th July 2024 – Webinar: Facial recognition and the NZ Police
Interested in how facial recognition technology (FRT) might be used in policing? What are the ethical considerations in using FRT … Keep reading “10th July 2024 – Webinar: Facial recognition and the NZ Police”
Submission: Future Census
The Council calls for this consultation to be scrapped. Stats NZ is proposing a fundamental change to a cornerstone of our system of government. They are running a sham consultation on it, having provided no data and having admitted that they do not have evidence that its proposal will work. Keep reading “Submission: Future Census”
Submission: Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill
The Council opposes this bill as the intended purpose is insufficient to justify breaching our international human rights obligations. Keep reading “Submission: Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill”
Submission: Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill
The Council has long opposed the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982, which we have described as unjust and racist. Therefore the Council supports the Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill. Keep reading “Submission: Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill”
Watch the Physical Privacy in Prison webinar
Watch Anna Smart, the winner of the 2023 NZCCL VUW Law Essay Prize, present their work and answer questions at our webinar held in April. Keep reading “Watch the Physical Privacy in Prison webinar”
Our Privacy Act rights and Stats Integrated Data Infrastructure
The Council has written to the Government Statistician about Stats NZ's refusal to provide people with copies of the information it holds on them in the Integrated Data Infrastructure. We think this is a breach of the Privacy Act. Keep reading “Our Privacy Act rights and Stats Integrated Data Infrastructure”
Privacy Commission Biometrics Consultation
The Council believes that biometric processing is a significant threat to our liberties and our democracy. The Council re-iterates our call for a ban on Remote Biometric Identification (RBI). The Council recommends that a biometrics code under the Privacy Act should not be adopted. Keep reading “Privacy Commission Biometrics Consultation”
CSOs call on the Minister for the Public Service and Finance to adequately fund Open Government Partnership work
Eight civil society organisations have written to Minister Willis who is both the Minister responsible for New Zealand's membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and Minister of Finance asking her to ensure that adequate funding is provided so that ambitious new pieces of work are committed to in our next National Action Plan. Keep reading “CSOs call on the Minister for the Public Service and Finance to adequately fund Open Government Partnership work”
Submission: Fast-track Approvals Bill
The Fast-track Approvals Bill does not just remove our rights to participate in environmental decision-making, it removes our right to information under the OIA, taking us back to the dark days of Muldoon and the Official Secrets Act. Keep reading “Submission: Fast-track Approvals Bill”
What’s going on with the appointment of a new Ombudsman?
The Council has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives today, about the issues with the appointment of the next Ombudsman, and made an Official Information Act request to the Ministry of Justice. This blog post is to explain why, and the letter is reproduced at the end. Keep reading “What’s going on with the appointment of a new Ombudsman?”
Secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act
The Council responded to a Ministry of Justice consultation on secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act. We concluded the consultation was wholly unfit. It will not lead to stronger testing of claims for secrecy, as it sets out no standards. Keep reading “Secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act”
Submission on the Draft Voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists
The Council's response to a consultation by the Ministry of Justice on the draft of a voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists. We're concerned by the definition of 'lobbyist' and how weak the draft Code is. Keep reading “Submission on the Draft Voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists”
Submission: Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill
This Bill is a gross infringement of our civil liberties including the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of peaceful assembly. The Council recommends that the Committee reject this Bill in its entirety. Keep reading “Submission: Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill”
Submission: Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Amendment Bill
The Council condemns this bill in the strongest terms. The word for Police interactions “without having reasonable grounds to suspect that any offence has been, is being, or will be committed” is harassment. Keep reading “Submission: Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Amendment Bill”
23 April 2024 – Webinar: Physical Privacy in Prison
We’re very pleased that Anna Smart, winner of the 2023 NZCCL VUW Law Essay Prize has agreed to present her … Keep reading “23 April 2024 – Webinar: Physical Privacy in Prison”
What the Royal Commission on Lessons from COVID-19 should consider
The Council has summarised its thoughts on civil liberties and the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are various lessons to be learned that are key to retaining public trust and confidence in times of crisis. Keep reading “What the Royal Commission on Lessons from COVID-19 should consider”
Ram Raids Bill Oral Submission
The Attorney General has decided that this bill can not be justified in a free and democratic society. That’s a serious condemnation from a trusted source. The Council urges the committee to kill this bill. Keep reading “Ram Raids Bill Oral Submission”