The right to protest is a vital part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s democracy. Political protest has been important in shaping public opinion and swaying government action in issues as significant and varied as the 1951 waterfront dispute, the 1981 Springbok Tour, homosexual law reform, and mining on conservation land. The right to protest is protected by the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.

And this is why it’s so disturbing to see the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) publish a report saying that people should have to apply to the government for permission before protesting. Furthermore they recommend that it should be a criminal offence to protest without permission. This is apparently to make the job of the NZ Police easier.

We are totally opposed to the idea of having to apply to the government for permission to hold a political protest. A government licensing system for protest is the first step for exerting further control over political protest. With the power to license comes the power to refuse licenses, or to impose rules that hide protest from public view. It’s weakening a key element in New Zealand’s democracy.

While we agree that advance notice of protests can be beneficial, some political protests happen as a reaction to events. Does the IPCA think that the protesters who shut down the recent South Korean declaration of martial law within 12 hours should have had to apply for a license first?

We’re also troubled that this anti-democratic proposal comes from the Independent Police Conduct Authority? Their role is to investigate police conduct, not develop policy to rewrite New Zealand law. The IPCA admit as much in their report where they recommend that the proposed legislation outlined in the IPCA report be proposed by Police rather than themselves. 

Even if the Police are foolish enough to take up this suggestion, we hope that the government will stand up for our rights and reject it. Defending the rights of all New Zealanders is the Council’s mission, and we will fight this proposal every step of the way.