In the wake of the publication of Dirty Politics back in 2014, the New Zealand Police undertook multiple unlawful breaches of Nicky Hager's privacy. They've now apologised for that - but the important thing is to make sure it does not ever happen again.
Read MoreNew Zealand Bill of Rights Act
"Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts ... "
National apparently doesn't think gang members with criminal records are properly human. Or, rather, they don't deserve to be given the same rights that full humans possess.
Read MoreIt's a Sicilian message
Alfred Ngaro appears to think the Government can stop its critics taking part in government programmes. That's not just wrong from a political morality standpoint, it's flat out illegal.
Read MoreI'm surprised Hitler didn't round up the toupee people
Does a murderer really have the right to wear a hairpiece? Are we really living in such mad times? Or might things be a little more complex than that?
Read MoreSing me to sleep
The real scandal isn't that the Police set up a (probably) illegal drink driving checkpoint to get the names of elderly people interested in exercising control over the circumstances of their own death. It's that our law doesn't allow such people an option without having the Police stick their noses in to it.
Read MorePolitics ... coming soon to a screen near you
The Court of Appeal's decision on the Planet Key's legal status means that we are likely to see and hear a lot more political advertising. And it also renders the Government's just announced reforms of party political broadcasts completely out of date.
Read MoreThe lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn
The Planet Key song and video can be watched, played on the radio and shown on TV without any restrictions at all. It's great that a judge has been able to make the law say what it should do.
Read MoreHow to win a death with dignity
Choosing to end your life on your own terms in order to avoid an inevitable lingering death is not suicide. So giving someone the means to do so should not be a crime.
Read MoreThere's something going down that wasn't here before
The High Court just cracked open the door to expressly telling Parliament that it has made laws that unacceptably breach human rights. But it also said that it really, really, really doesn't want to walk into that strange room.
Read MoreSomething To Dü
In a shameless piece of self-promotion, I'd like to tell you about an event I'm coordinating at the start of next month. Some of you might even like to come along to it ... .
Read MoreFrom the ridiculous to the disgraceful
No, this isn't a post on Labour's leadership election (zing!) But it is about elections - more specifically, who can't take part in them.
Read MoreI think National just broke our constitution
Our constitutional arrangements work on an implicit bargain - the principle of comity - that the Courts and Parliament don't mess with each other's turf. I think that bargain just got broken.
Read MoreAnd then the hammer came down
Why is it much, much worse for protesters to interfere with oil exploration at sea than on the land?
Read MoreIf thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out
If you try to say something offensive to Parliament, it doesn't have to listen to you. But why not?
Read MoreDoes Roger Sutton really own central Christchurch?
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority appears to confuse its role in overseeing the rebuild of central Christchurch with owning it entirely. Here's a reminder - it doesn't.
Read MoreInvictus
Has the Attorney General (gasp!) made up his own mind about what the NZBORA means?
Read MoreNo doubt the precogs have already seen this (redux)
When National revealed its "law and order" policy before the last election, I wrote this post on it. Now that Judith Collins reportedly is preparing to introduce legislation to deliver that policy, here are some more thoughts.
Read MoreA farewell to arms
The Occupy Dunedin camp has folded. Now a judge has told Auckland's version to do the same. So it goes.
Read MoreSome quick legal advice for Dave Cull
Dunedin's police will not be moving to evict the Occupy Dunedin protest. Good on Dunedin's police.
Read MoreIs this really how we have to remember Simon Power?
If torturing a prisoner will lead to more money for victims of crime, then isn't that a good thing to have happen?
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