Media law developments have continued across many areas in the period to mid-2013. In defamation, the New Zealand courts have begun to consider the issue of third party liability for publication on the internet, with cases involving Google searches and comments on a Facebook page. A parliamentary inquiry into a case that restricted parliamentary privilege has recommended a Parliamentary Privilege Act containing a definition of ‘proceedings in Parliament’. A satirical website increased its popularity when it fought off threatened defamation proceedings. In breach of confidence, a government body, the Earthquake Commission, obtained an interim injunction prohibiting publication of information accidentally released that dealt with the repair of earthquake-damaged properties in Christchurch, and a blogger made the information available online in breach of the order.
Both sides are expected to sum up their cases today in the legal battle between Tower Insurance and a Christchurch couple, over the amount owed on an earthquake damaged home.
Summary of oral history interview with Nellie about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 23 August 2013
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 29 November 2013
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 4 September 2013
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 13 July 2012
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 8 June 2012
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 29 June 2012
Summary of oral history interview with Sina Lemana about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 6 July 2012
Information site provided by Christchurch residents group formed to advocate and protect the rights of home owners in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes. Provides articles and legal advice on getting fair compensation and dealing with government beaurocracy.
Transcript of Anton Wartmann's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Summary of oral history interview with Rana about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes
A copy of the CanCERN online newsletter published on 20 December 2013
Summary of oral history interview with Gina King about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Naval blockade: Greenpeace say its activists are willing to get arrested over their protest against a Brazilian oil company surveying off East Cape. Royal Commission: Legal experts are in agreement ... the purpose of the Royal Commission into February's earthquake in Christchurch is to investigate - not to incriminate.
A legal settlement between the Earthquake Commission and a group of Canterbury homeowners over the standard of quake repairs, is being described as a milestone for house owners throughout the country. The Reserve Bank has left the cost of borrowing unchanged at a record low 2-point-25 percent, athough it is signalling further cuts remain on the cards.
A pdf transcript of Gabrielle Moore's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Maggie Blackwood.
Some of the families of the 115 people who dies in the CTV building during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake protested in Latimer Square yesterday over the police decision not to prosecute the designers of the CTV building. They say they do want to see a prosecution go ahead, and they are seeking legal advice about what their options are.
A pdf transcript of Ina Wit's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Sriparna Saha. Transcriber: Natalie Looyer.
The 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes and their aftermath have been described by the Human Rights Commission as one of New Zealand's greatest contemporary human rights challenges. This article documents the shortcomings in the realisation of the right to housing in post-quake Canterbury for homeowners, tenants and the homeless. The article then considers what these shortcomings tell us about New Zealand's overall human rights framework, suggesting that the ongoing and seemingly intractable nature of these issues and the apparent inability to resolve them indicate an underlying fragility implicit in New Zealand's framework for dealing with the consequences of a large-scale natural disaster. The article concludes that there is a need for a comprehensive human rights-based approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery in New Zealand.
A pdf transcript of Jan's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Maggie Blackwood.
A pdf transcript of Julie's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Rosemary Du Plessis. Transcriber: Natalie Looyer.
A pdf transcript of Liz Kivi's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Joshua Black. Transcriber: Josie Hepburn.
A pdf transcript of Betty and Michael's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Sarah Woodfield.
A pdf transcript of Paul Barrett's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Josie Hepburn.
A Taranaki business owner is warning leaseholders to read the fine print of their contracts after being asked to pay his rent in full despite a clause in his lease allowing for a rent cut if he couldn't legally access the property. Clause 27.5 was included in the Auckland District Law Society commercial lease in 2012 in response to the Canterbury earthquakes, when many leaseholders were barred from their businesses. RNZ reporter Robin Martin has more.
Efforts are underway to find out how many Maori left Christchurch after the earthquake; The Chairperson of the Maori Midwives Collective Nga Maia, says the earthquake a year ago forced the organisation to start its administrative operations from scratch; Ngai Tahu says its people are turning to the tribe for help with legal and engineering advice about their earthquake-damaged homes in Christchurch; The Ngai Tahu hapu, Ngai Tuahuriri in Christchurch, will be welcoming the Governor-General to Rehua Marae this morning to commemorate the anniversary of last year's earthquake.
A review of the week's news, including: environmental protests against oil exploration off the East cape, changes to Legal Aid, plans to sell the Pike River coal mine, a Labour MP says his party's list is drawn up by"a gaggle of gays", confidence in the economy grows, extraordinary powers given to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, the number of heritage buildings to be demolished after the quake grows, results from faultline mapping in Christchurch to be known within weeks, Mt Ruapehu to be monitored around the clock and Victoria Cross winners are awarded with stamps.