NZ Council for Civil Liberties

Civil liberties newsfeed (NZ)

We've just taken our website down until the PHP fixes get released and implemented.

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

@civillibertynznews.bsky.social

If you find this NZ civil liberty news feed useful we recommend filling in our brief survey about it! www.surveymonkey.com/r/RRCLXXV

surveymonkey.comNZCCL civil liberty news feedTake this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

petitions.parliament.nzpetitions.parliament.nzPetitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.

A petition to bring responsibility for local body elections to the Electoral Commission: petitions.parliament.nz/2fe0e8ed-1e3...

newsroom.co.nzOfficials crack on behind closed doors to limit the OIA, under cover of electionAndrew Ecclestone and Russell Opland argue the managerialism of processing official information requests is shielding the heart of the matter: reducing our right to participate in making policies, and...

"Claims about the cost of operating the [Official Information Act] are being used as a Trojan horse to smuggle in a reactionary attack on our right to information" - newsroom.co.nz/2026/09/28/o...

legislation.govt.nzlegislation.govt.nz

We've campaigned on strengthening the IPCA (Independent Police Conduct Authority) so it's pleasing to see the bill to replace them with a stronger Inspector General of Police. www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/governm...

View full thread

Of particular importance, the IGP will be able to refer matters to the Solicitor General for an independent decision on charging Police employees for their conduct. One of the biggest flaws of the IPCA regime was leaving Police to make the decisions about whether to prosecute police.

Finally, until we read the law in depth, unlike the IPCA, the IGP will be subject to the Official Information Act.

legislation.govt.nzlegislation.govt.nz

Of note are that the IGP's scope will cover conduct, policies, practices and procedures, rather than just complaints. They can initiate their own investigations, access Police records and premises, and direct Police to launch investigations when they have failed to do so.

lurideditions.comLurid EditionsLurid Editions publish reprints that refuse to fit in - lurid writing from the twentieth century and beyond. Browse and purchase our books from the Lurid store.

Banned book "A Way of Love" by New Zealander James Courage is being reprinted by Lurid Editions. Banned in 1961 on grounds of indecency because of its homosexual content, it is once again available in Aotearoa. We've come a long way. www.lurideditions.com

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

Civil liberties newsfeed (NZ)

@civillibertynznews.bsky.social

21 Sept

If you find the NZCCL newsfeed useful, we'd be very grateful if you'd answer a brief survey about it: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RRCLXXV

surveymonkey.comNZCCL civil liberty news feedTake this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

thepress.co.nzOIA crackdown: Government eyes tougher rules, fees and limits on requestersExclusive: Justice officials have mapped out post-election changes to the OIA, including tougher refusal grounds, new fees and restrictions on frequent requesters - backed by a disputed $750m cost cla...

18 Sept

Government looking at new rules to make it harder to use the Official Information Act: www.thepress.co.nz/politics/361...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

Idiot/Savant

@norightturnnz.bsky.social

25 Aug

On NRT: No-one wants National's internet tyranny - norightturn.blogspot.com/2026/08/no-o...

norightturn.blogspot.comNo-one wants National's internet tyrannyYesterday the National Party introduced its bill to ban young people from social media to Parliament. While ostensibly about "protecting ch...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

nzccl.org.nzMedia Release: NZCCL opposes social media ban for the under 16sThe New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties opposes the National Party’s bill to ban social media sites for people under the age of 16.

Media Release: NZCCL opposes National's planned social media ban for the under 16s: nzccl.org.nz/media-releas...

@norightturnnz.bsky.social

Media Release: NZCCL opposes National's planned social media ban for the under 16s: nzccl.org.nz/media-releas...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

Idiot/Savant

Reading the Transparency International Green Paper on "Reforming the #OIA". Successive govts have simply given up on this, so civil society is going to propose some stuff instead.

rnz.co.nzWatch live: Govt pushes ahead with social media ban for under-16sThe government is pressing ahead with its ban on social media for under-16 year olds, with the legislation set to be introduced on Monday.

Very disappointed to see the govt proposing a ban on under-16s using social media. While we agree there is work to be done, a ban is the wrong approach and interferes with young people's rights to communicate with family, each other, and the wider world. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

stuff.co.nzProminent blogger facing court action, says he is ‘prepared to go to prison’ for free speechMartyn Bradbury says he cannot reveal who was behind the court action, why it was being done, and what had been censored.

3 Aug

Blogger Martyn Bradbury says he has been hit by court action over four posts and he can't even report who brought the case against him. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3610...

rnz.co.nzGang patch ban inconsistent with Bill of Rights, High Court findsA new court decision could send the gang patch ban back to the government for review following a High Court ruling that a Wellington man's conviction for displaying gang insignia contravenes the Bill ...

2 Aug

High Court finds gang patch ban inconsistent with NZ Bill of Rights: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

legislation.govt.nzlegislation.govt.nz

17 July

Some improvements in the reported back Policing Amendment Bill trying to make it clear that it's not really meant to give the Police carte blanche to do whatever they want, even if that's what the badly written law says: www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/governm...

nzpillar.comDigital Freedom Campaign Page | Safeguard Digital Rights Today — PILLAR.Protect privacy and freedom in New Zealand. Learn about digital ID, surveillance dangers, and how to defend digital rights with PILLAR's advocacy and campaigns.

16 July

NZ lobby group PILLAR has come up with a Digital Bill of Rights and it's worth a look: www.nzpillar.com/digital-free...

keithlocke.org.nzHome - Keith Locke

2 July

The Keith Locke Memorial Debate, that hate speech is a threat to freedom of speech, is tonight at 7pm with NZCCL chair Thomas Beagle speaking on the affirmative. Get the link to the livestream here: keithlocke.org.nz

nzccl.org.nzSubmission: Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment BillThe Council strongly opposes this move-on orders bill. This bill limits seven BORA rights, property rights, our right to be healthy, and interferes with the proper functioning of government. Against t...

30 June

Submission against the Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill - people have a right to be in public spaces. nzccl.org.nz/submission-s...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

nzccl.org.nzSubmission: Legislation (Definition of Woman and Man) Amendment BillThis bill adds definitions of man, woman, male, and female to the Legislation Act 2019. These definitions are reductionist and based on a simplistic view of both human nature and biology.

28 June

Our submission against the Legislation (Definition of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill. The bill has no clear benefits and seems to be an attempt to encourage discrimination against trans-gender and non-binary people. nzccl.org.nz/submission-l...

28 June

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

nzccl.org.nzEssay prize webinar now onlineThanks to our NZCCL/VUW Law essay prize winner Jessica Ye for taking the time to present her essay and answer questions in our webinar. This was recorded and is now available online.

20 June

Want to learn about the academic view of civil disobedience and how that breaks down in a colonial society? Watch this webinar from the NZCCL/VUW Law essay prize winner Jessica Ye: nzccl.org.nz/essay-prize-...

20 June

keithlocke.org.nzHome - Keith Locke

2 June

This year's Keith Locke Memorial Debate topic is "Do hate speech laws threaten free speech?" and will be on July 2nd in Auckland. keithlocke.org.nz NZCCL Chair Thomas Beagle will be speaking for the affirmative.

ojs.victoria.ac.nz Vagrancy, Homelessness and Policing by Consent | Policy Quarterly

28 May

Kim Workman provides contect for the Move On bill, writing about the history of vagrancy, homelessness, and related policing in Aotearoa New Zealand. ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/v...

nzccl.org.nzSubmission: Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment BillWe are opposed to the arrest of people for not carrying proof of their right to live in New Zealand.

24 May

Just made our oral sub on the Immigration Amendment Bill - we believe people in NZ shouldn't be arrested for not carrying their residency papers at all times. See our written sub here: nzccl.org.nz/submission-i...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

nzccl.org.nzRight to Know Act - A replacement for the OIA?Recently we received an intriguing document from an independent researcher, Russell Opland, where he has given up on the prosect of improving the Official Information Act and has written a complete re...

24 May

A replacement for the OIA? We all know it needs work, but one researcher has written a complete replacement called the Right to Know law. It's worth a look. nzccl.org.nz/right-to-kno...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

Marcus

@utf9k.net

23 May

Each year since 2023, the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) runs an all-of-government survey asking agencies what their AI use cases are www.digital.govt.nz/standards-an... While the results are summarised, the raw data was released by the DIA this month: www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Inf...

digital.govt.nzdigital.govt.nz

24 May

A replacement for the OIA? We all know it needs work, but one researcher has written a complete replacement called the Right to Know law. It's worth a look. nzccl.org.nz/right-to-kno...

buymeacoffee.comWhen the Doors Close Quietly: How a Bot Filter is Undermining Parliamentary Transparency — CJ SandallPost by CJ Sandall

11 May

Oral submissions on the Policing Amendment Bill today. Submitter after submitter, including the Privacy Commissioner, the Law Society, the Privacy Foundation, and us, stating that the Policing Amendment Bill isn't salvageable and needs to be sent back for a rewrite.

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

cj sandall

@cjs.nz

10 May

Since NZPT first went public, small changes to the Parliament website have rendered many civic-tech applications useless. I’ve written a blog post about this in order to air my frustrations and concerns, and I’m sharing here in case anyone is curious. #AoNZ #NZPol #NZPT

nzccl.org.nz5th May 2026 - Webinar: Rupturing the liberal grammar of ‘critical’ civil disobedience theoriesCome and hear 2025 NZCCL VUW Law Essay Prize winner Jessica Ye present her essay Rupturing the liberal grammar of ‘critical’ civil disobedience theories: Decolonial refusal of state recognition and af...

4 May

Tonight! What promises to be an interesting webinar about civil disobedience by Jessica Ye, the winner of the 2025 NZCCL VUW Law essay price tonight at 7:30pm Tuesday 5th May. Details and sign-up here: nzccl.org.nz/5th-may-2026...

trustdemocracy.nzDoing Democracy Better: Iain Walker speaking tour, 10-14 May - Trust Democracy NZIain Walker of Australia’s newDemocracy Foundation tours New Zealand, sharing practical insights on citizens’ assemblies and doing democracy better.

4 May

Doing Democracy Better: Ian Walker speaking tour 10-14 May to promote deliberative democracy. Put on by Trust Democracy, details and registration: trustdemocracy.nz/2026/04/doin...

30 Apr

Reminder: our webinar about civil disobedience by Jessica Ye, the winner of the 2025 NZCCL VUW Law essay price, is coming up at 7:30pm Tuesday 5th May. Details and sign-up here: nzccl.org.nz/5th-may-2026...

privacy.org.nzOffice of the Privacy Commissioner | Privacy Commissioner does not support Policing Amendment Bill

30 Apr

The Privacy Commissioner says that the "Policing Amendment Bill would create significant risks for the privacy and rights of New Zealanders", he points out that the changes are not justified and not subject to oversight. He says the bill should be rejected. www.privacy.org.nz/tuhono-conne...

nzccl.org.nzSubmission: Policing Amendment BillThe Council strongly objects to the Policing Amendment Bill. This bill removes all limits on Police powers to record people’s activities. This bill enables police to break up any gathering, remove peo...

30 Apr

As well as part 1 of the bill that alarmed both us and the Privacy Commissioner, our submission also covered part 2 that gives the police incredibly broad powers to disperse groups of people from any public place, with possible serious harm to the right to protest: nzccl.org.nz/submission-p...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

What does it mean when civil disobedience isn't a message to the political system but a rejection of it? 2025 NZCCL VUW Law essay prize winner Jessica Ye decolonises civil disobedience in the NZCCL webinar, 7:30pm Tuesday 5th May. Details and sign-up here: nzccl.org.nz/5th-may-2026...

NZ Council for Civil Liberties reposted

The Policing Amendment Bill vastly expands Police surveillance powers and enables the use of body cams without any additional oversight. It also allows Police to designate no-go areas nearly anywhere and on the flimsiest of grounds. Read our full submission: nzccl.org.nz/submission-p...