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”
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”
Response to Privacy Commission’s 2023 Biometrics Discussion Paper
The Council is worried about the widespread use of biometrics for surveillance, tracking, and invading people’s privacy. We further believe that the unconstrained use of biometric technology is a threat to our freedoms and civil liberties. Keep reading “Response to Privacy Commission’s 2023 Biometrics Discussion Paper”
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”
Submission: Public safety and serious offenders: a review of preventive detention and post-sentence orders
The Council opposes preventative detention and post-sentence orders in principle. The Council reluctantly acknowledges that the rest of our systems are in such an unsatisfactory state that we can not recommend abolishing preventative detention at this time. There are small numbers of people who are dangers to themselves and others who are currently managed though preventative detention. Keep reading “Submission: Public safety and serious offenders: a review of preventive detention and post-sentence orders”
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”
Complacency on Open Government a risk to democracy – Helen Clark
Watch the video recording of the April 2023 event on open government with Sanjay Pradhan and Helen Clark from the Open Government Partnership, Helmut Modlik of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Andrew Ecclestone and Suzanne Snively. Keep reading “Complacency on Open Government a risk to democracy – Helen Clark”
Submission:Immigration (Mass Arrivals) Amendment Bill
Seeking refuge is a human right. This bill discriminates against asylum seekers who associate with one another. It is unconscionable to imprison people seeking refuge for nothing more than associating with other people with similar needs. The Council calls for the Committee to reject this bill. Keep reading “Submission:Immigration (Mass Arrivals) Amendment Bill”
Submission: Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill
The bill requires the Minister to appoint a 'collection agency' to collect and distribute royalties on the re-sale of visual works of art. But the bill does not make this body subject to the OIA, Ombudsmen Act, Public Audit Act or Public Records Act. We recommend this is fixed. Keep reading “Submission: Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill”
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”
Submission: Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill
This bill is an affront to our democracy. The autocratic measures at the heart of this bill are precisely the sort of executive overreach the Council was founded to prevent. The process for passing this legislation under urgency is a further affront to democracy. Keep reading “Submission: Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill”
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: Local Government Official Information and Meetings (Amendment) Bill
The full text of our submission to the Governance and Administration Select Committee, opposing the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Bill unless amended. Keep reading “Submission: Local Government Official Information and Meetings (Amendment) Bill”
Submission: Inspector-General of Defence Bill
The full text of our submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee recommending substantial amendments to the Inspector-General of Defence Bill. Keep reading “Submission: Inspector-General of Defence Bill”
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”