We might think the participants in the Craig v Slater defamation decision got what they deserved ... but for the fact that one of them continues to have to relive something she would far, far rather put behind her.
Read MoreLaw
Ross, Bridges and the party hopping law (updated for recent developments)
Should Simon Bridges use the party hopping law to force Jami-Lee Ross from Parliament? You can make up your own mind up on that, but he can if National's caucus wants him to [update: unless Ross' seat becomes vacant because of his mental health].
Read MoreRoss, Bridges, donations and our Politics
Jamie-Lee Ross has levelled a very serious accusation against Simon Bridges - which has yet to be confirmed. But its the way his actions are hurting our Politics we need to really worry about.
Read MoreYou're not the boss of me now
The Supreme Court has this week released a judgment that not only raises issues for the Crown’s settlement negotiations with Hauraki, but it also marks a shift in how the Court sees its relationship with Parliament.
Read MoreThoughts from the Criminal Justice Summit
The recent Criminal Justice Summit talked about the need for change – especially in terms of engagement with Māori. But there was little about what that change might actually look like.
Read MoreFreedom of speech means what we want it to mean
In New Zealand, freedom of speech doesn't have to be, and currently isn't, exclusively concerned with preventing the state from punishing people for speech. Nevertheless, people sometimes claim that freedom of speech has to take on that narrow meaning.
Read MoreSouthern and Molyneux: hard questions and no easy answers
As a society, must we let obnoxious provocateurs have a public stage? How do we decide when others must bear the burden of their speech?
Read MoreIf you take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself
What do Barbra Streisand and Sir Bob Jones have in common? It’s all about the Streisand effect.
Read MoreWhy the police's apology to Nicky Hager matters
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 MoreIt’s easy to be friends with one who shares the same opinions
There has been a call for a review of the Waitangi Tribunal based on a view that the Tribunal leans against the Crown in challenges to settlement negotiations. Lets just fact-check that.
Read MoreWhy can’t we all just get along?
Overlapping claims in Treaty settlements have been before the Supreme Court and raised on Parliament’s lawn this week. Here’s a quick explainer as to why these can be such difficult issues.
Read MoreAccountability in Māori organizations
Existing legal and institutional concepts do not serve Māori organisations well. What needs to change?
Read MoreWhere did it algo wrong? The threat and promise of predictive analytics
Attitudes to 'artificial intelligence' and predictive algorithms seem to oscillate between hype and hysteria. The true picture is a good deal more mixed, but as more examples of predictive analytics in government come to light, it's time for some proper oversight.
Read MoreGluckman: chief science advisor says the NZ media have been flogging fake news for 20 years
The chief science advisor to the Prime Minister has just issued a damning commentary on the way in which the media presents 'information' about crime and punishment in New Zealand
Read MoreA submission on the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act
A bunch of legal and political studies academics think the proposed Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill (or, party hopping law) is a bad idea. Here's why.
Read MoreBy their acts ye shall know them
Wearing a wig is not a form of expression. Depending, that is, upon the sort of wig it is. And why the person is wearing it. Maybe. Hope that clears things up for you.
Read More"If the King's English was good enough for Jesus Christ ... "
As I told Laura Walters at stuff.co.nz, Clayton Mitchell's bill to deem English an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand is a piece of legally meaningless virtue signalling. Here's why.
Read MoreCan Israel really make New Zealanders pay damages for expressing their opinion?
An Israeli legal group are threatening to sue two New Zealand women for writing an opinion piece on a New Zealand website. They'll probably never get a cent from it, but that's not really the point of the exercise.
Read MoreWho controls the past now, controls the future
Should NZ reintroduce legislation requiring MPs that leave their parties to also quit Parliament? The debate over that question involves a battle over what happened in the past.
Read MoreContra Quin: Ghahraman still did nothing wrong
Phil Quin says Golriz Ghahraman's time working for defendants in Rwandan war crimes trials deserves our condemnation. I don't think he's established the basis for such a claim.
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