Media Law in New Zealand

by Burrows, John; Cheer, Ursula

• ISBN13: 9780195584998
• ISBN10: 0195584996
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Media Law in New Zealand 5E is an up-to-date account and analysis of all aspects of the law that pertain to the media in New Zealand. This edition covers substantial developments in all areas of the law since the last edition (1999), including the significant developments in privacy protection. Particular attention has also been given to defamation law and court reporting.

Author Biography

Ursula Cheer is Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. John Burrows is Professor in the School of Law at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Fifth Edition	xvii
Table of Cases	xix
Table of Statutes	lix
Chapter 1 Penalties and Remedies	1	(9)
A Criminal penalties	1	(1)
B Civil liability	1	(7)
1 Damages	2	(1)
2 Injunction	2	(6)
(a) General	2	(1)
(b) Permanent injunction	2	(1)
(c) Interim injunction	3	(2)
(d) Mandatory injunction	5	(1)
(e) The effect of an injunction on non-parties	6	(1)
(f) The extra-territorial effect of an injunction	7	(1)
3 Other civil remedies	8	(1)
C Criminal and civil: the overlap	8	(1)
D Other modes of enforcement	9	(1)
Chapter 2 Defamation	10	(72)
A Introduction	10	(1)
B The constituents of defamation	11	(45)
1 Definition	11	(1)
2 Some examples of defamatory statements	12	(15)
(a) Imputations of anti-social conduct	12	(2)
(b) Imputations of fraud or dishonesty	14	(1)
(c) Imputations of criminal conduct	15	(3)
(d) Ridicule	18	(2)
(e) Matters tending to make people 'shun and avoid' the plaintiff	20	(2)
(f) Incompetence or unfitness for job	22	(4)
(g) Imputations of financial difficulty	26	(1)
3 Further matters of definition	27	(2)
4 Some aspects of the law of defamation	29	(27)
(a) Intention not necessary	29	(5)
(b) The meaning of the statement	34	(8)
(c) Repetition of stories	42	(2)
(d) Liability for statements by others	44	(5)
(e) Defamation of overseas persons	49	(1)
(f) Defamation of the plaintiff	50	(5)
(g) Defamation and negligence	55	(1)
C Remedies	56	(14)
1 Damages	57	(11)
(a) Compensation	57	(1)
(b) Punishment	58	(3)
(c) Relevant factors	61	(3)
(d) The size of damages awards	64	(4)
2 Injunction	68	(2)
D The impact of summary judgment procedures	70	(2)
E Defamation Act 1992	72	(10)
1 'Gagging writs'	72	(2)
2 Other remedies	74	(5)
(a) The correction recommendation	74	(3)
(b) Declaration	77	(1)
(c) Retraction or reply	78	(1)
3 Judicial conference	79	(1)
4 Limitation of actions	79	(3)
Chapter 3 Defences to a Defamation Action	82	(74)
A Privilege	82	(46)
1 Absolute privilege	83	(6)
(a) Judicial proceedings	83	(1)
(b) Parliamentary proceedings	84	(4)
(c) Parliamentary papers, etc.	88	(1)
(d) Statements by one officer of state to another	88	(1)
(e) The position of the media	89	(1)
2 Common law qualified privilege	89	(15)
(a) Duty and interest	89	(12)
(b) Defence against attack	101	(3)
3 Statutory qualified privilege	104	(24)
(a) Strong qualified privilege	104	(8)
(b) Weaker qualified privilege	112	(11)
(c) Loss of privilege	123	(5)
B Honest opinion	128	(16)
1 The opinion must be based on true facts	129	(3)
(a) The commentator must indicate the facts on which he or she is commenting	129	(1)
(b) The facts on which the commentator relies must be true	130	(2)
2 The opinion must obviously be opinion	132	(3)
3 The opinion must be genuine	135	(6)
(a) The honesty test	135	(5)
(b) A former exception	140	(1)
4 The opinion must be on a matter of public interest	141	(2)
5 Malice does not destroy honest opinion	143	(1)
C Truth	144	(8)
D Consent	152	(1)
E Settlement	153	(1)
F Apology	154	(2)
Chapter 4 Copyright	156	(47)
A Copyright in literary and dramatic work	157	(34)
1 The subject matter	157	(3)
2 Breach of copyright	160	(7)
(a) Copying	161	(3)
(b) Adaptation	164	(1)
(c) Issuing copies to the public	165	(1)
(d) Performance in public	166	(1)
(e) Secondary infringement	166	(1)
3 Acts not amounting to breach of copyright	167	(9)
(a) Schools, universities, and libraries	167	(1)
(b) Research and private study	167	(1)
(c) Criticism or review	168	(2)
(d) Reporting current events	170	(2)
(e) Recording made for reporting current events or broadcasting	172	(1)
(f) Public interest	173	(1)
(g) Public reading or recitation	174	(1)
(h) Assumption of expiry of copyright	174	(1)
(i) Scientific abstracts; medicines	174	(1)
(j) Public administration	174	(1)
(k) No copyright in certain works	175	(1)
(l) Incidental copying	175	(1)
(m) Implied consent	176	(1)
4 The original owner of copyright	176	(4)
(a) Author normally entitled	176	(2)
(b) Employers	178	(2)
(c) Special cases	180	(1)
5 Transmission and licence	180	(5)
(a) Transmission	180	(2)
(b) Licence	182	(1)
(c) Collective licensing	183	(1)
(d) Alteration of copyright work by assignees and licensees	183	(2)
6 Duration of copyright	185	(1)
(a) The general rule	185	(1)
(b) Special cases	185	(1)
7 Enforcement of copyright: remedies and penalties	186	(5)
(a) Civil remedies	186	(4)
(b) Presumptions	190	(1)
(c) Criminal penalties	190	(1)
(d) Border protection measures	191	(1)
B Copyright in other kinds of work	191	(10)
1 Artistic works	191	(5)
(a) Definition	191	(1)
(b) Breaches	192	(2)
(c) Acts not amounting to breach	194	(1)
(d) The owner of copyright	195	(1)
(e) Transmission of copyright	196	(1)
(f) Duration of copyright	196	(1)
(g) Remedies for infringement	196	(1)
2 Films	196	(1)
3 Broadcasts and cable programmes	197	(1)
4 Musical works and sound recordings	198	(1)
5 Typographical arrangement	199	(1)
6 News	200	(1)
C International copyright	201	(1)
D Digital copyright	202	(1)
Chapter 5 Breach of Confidence	203	(31)
A General principles	203	(1)
B The necessary quality of confidence	204	(1)
C Circumstances imparting an obligation of confidence	205	(11)
1 Relationship	205	(8)
(a) Professional confidences	206	(1)
(b) Domestic	207	(1)
(c) Employer-employee relationship	207	(2)
(d) Business negotiations	209	(1)
(e) Government secrets	210	(1)
(f) Reporter and source	210	(1)
(g) Police	211	(1)
(h) Mediation or arbitration	212	(1)
(i) Statutes	212	(1)
(j) Others	212	(1)
2 How essential is relationship?	213	(8)
(a) The English authorities	213	(2)
(b) The New Zealand authorities	215	(1)
D Detriment	216	(1)
E Conclusions on the nature of the doctrine	217	(1)
F Rights against the media	218	(3)
G Excuses for breach of confidence	221	(7)
1 The information has become public knowledge	221	(2)
2 Public interest in publication	223	(4)
3 The duty of confidence must be owed to the plaintiff	227	(1)
H Remedies	228	(2)
1 Injunction	228	(1)
2 Damages	229	(1)
3 Account of profits	229	(1)
I Confidence and other relationships	230	(4)
1 Privacy	230	(1)
2 Contract	230	(2)
3 Image protection	232	(2)
Chapter 6 Privacy	234	(56)
A Introduction	234	(2)
1 Background—United Kingdom	235	(1)
2 Background—Australia	236	(1)
B The common law tort of invasion of privacy	236	(20)
1 England	236	(7)
2 Australia	243	(2)
3 New Zealand	245	(11)
(a) A tort invasion of privacy	245	(6)
(b) The elements of the tort	251	(5)
C Privacy and the Broadcasting Standards Authority	256	(16)
1 Introduction	256	(2)
2 The privacy principles	258	(14)
(a) Principles (i) and (ii)	258	(6)
(b) Principle (iii)	264	(2)
(c) Principle (iv)	266	(1)
(d) Principle (v)	267	(1)
(e) Principle (vi)	267	(2)
(f) Principle (vii)	269	(2)
(g) Conclusion	271	(1)
D The Privacy Act 1993	272	(8)
1 Principles and operation	272	(2)
2 The position of the media	274	(3)
3 The Privacy Act and the Official Information Act	277	(1)
4 Health sector information	278	(1)
5 Confidential sources	279	(1)
6 The Privacy Act and the common law	279	(1)
E Other provisions	280	(10)
1 Harassment	280	(2)
2 Victims' Rights Act 2002	282	(1)
3 Interception devices	282	(3)
4 Telephone	285	(1)
5 Photographs	286	(1)
6 Documents and letters	287	(1)
7 Radiocommunications	287	(1)
8 'Clean slate' legislation	288	(2)
Chapter 7 Other Civil Liabilities	290	(29)
A Copyright-related matters	290	(7)
1 Moral rights	291	(4)
(a) False attribution	291	(1)
(b) Right to be identified as author	292	(1)
(c) Right to object to derogatory treatment	293	(1)
(d) Privacy in relation to photograph and film	294	(1)
(e) Details of the moral rights	294	(1)
2 Performers' rights	295	(2)
B Liability for the publication of false statements	297	(10)
1 Deliberately false statements	297	(3)
(a) Fraud	297	(1)
(b) Injurious falsehood	298	(2)
(c) Hoaxes causing injury	300	(1)
2 Negligent statements	300	(5)
(a) Causing financial loss	301	(2)
(b) Causing damage to reputation	303	(2)
(c) Causing personal injury	305	(1)
3 Absolute liability for false statements: the Fair Trading Act 1986	305	(2)
C Liability for the publication of true statements	307	(4)
1 Publication in a way that might cause shock or injury	307	(1)
2 Conspiracy	308	(2)
3 Breach of contract	310	(1)
4 Negligent publication of true statements causing damage to reputation	311	(1)
D Breach of statutory duty	311	(1)
E Misappropriation of intellectual property	312	(7)
1 Similarity of title	313	(1)
2 Use of characters and ideas	314	(1)
3 Pseudonyms	315	(1)
4 Character merchandising	316	(3)
Chapter 8 Reporting Court Proceedings	319	(61)
A The jurisdiction of the principal courts	319	(5)
1 District Court	319	(2)
(a) Criminal jurisdiction	319	(1)
(b) Civil jurisdiction	320	(1)
(c) Special divisons	320	(1)
(d) Miscellaneous	321	(1)
(e) Justices of the Peace	321	(1)
(f) Community magistrates	321	(1)
2 High Court	321	(2)
(a) Criminal jurisdiction	321	(1)
(b) Civil jurisdiction	322	(1)
(c) Appellate jurisdiction	322	(1)
(d) Miscellaneous jurisdiction	322	(1)
3 Court of Appeal	323	(1)
4 Supreme Court	323	(1)
B The right to report proceedings in the principal courts	324	(32)
1 Chambers applications	324	(1)
2 Trials—the basic principle	325	(2)
3 Cameras in the courts	327	(2)
4 The statutory exceptions to the publicity principle	329	(22)
(a) Criminal trials	329	(16)
(b) Miscellaneous statutory powers to suppress publication	345	(2)
(c) General matters concerning the statutory rules	347	(4)
5 Civil cases	351	(5)
(a) In camera	351	(1)
(b) Reports	352	(4)
C Access to court records	356	(4)
1 District Courts	356	(1)
2 High Court	357	(3)
(a) Civil cases	357	(2)
(b) Criminal cases	359	(1)
D Other courts and tribunals	360	(20)
1 The special courts	361	(15)
(a) Family Court	361	(6)
(b) Disputes Tribunals	367	(1)
(c) Coroner	368	(1)
(d) Youth Court	369	(3)
(e) Courts martial	372	(2)
(f) Employment Court	374	(1)
(g) Environment Court	375	(1)
(h) Maori Land Court	375	(1)
2 The tribunals	376	(2)
3 Commissions of inquiry	378	(2)
Chapter 9 Contempt of Court	380	(57)
A Introduction	380	(3)
B Scandalising the court	383	(4)
C The sub judice rule	387	(40)
1 Introduction	387	(5)
2 When is a matter sub judice?	392	(3)
(a) The beginning of the period	392	(2)
(b) The end of the period	394	(1)
3 Prejudice to a fair trial	395	(24)
(a) The content of the publication	396	(13)
(b) The circumstances of publication	409	(3)
(c) Matters before a judge alone	412	(7)
4 Public interest and freedom of speech	419	(3)
5 Contempt and defamation	422	(2)
6 Strict responsibility	424	(1)
7 Contempt and other controls	425	(1)
8 Police and lawyers	426	(1)
D Other types of contempt: interviewing jurors	427	(3)
E To which bodies does the law of contempt apply?	430	(5)
1 Courts	430	(1)
2 Tribunals	430	(2)
3 Commission of inquiry	432	(3)
4 Another ground of liability?	435	(1)
F Reform of the law	435	(2)
Chapter 10 Criminal Offences	437	(59)
A Blasphemy	437	(4)
B Incitement and sedition	441	(10)
1 Incitement	441	(6)
2 Sedition	447	(4)
C Objectionable material	451	(30)
1 Introduction	451	(1)
2 The Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993	452	(26)
(a) The Office of Film and Literature Classification	453	(3)
(b) Procedure of the Office	456	(1)
(c) Types of decision	457	(2)
(d) Review	459	(1)
(e) Board of Review	459	(1)
(f) Procedure of the Board	459	(5)
(g) Appeal	464	(1)
(h) Definition of objectionable	465	(1)
(i) Decisions	466	(3)
(j) The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990	469	(6)
(k) Offences	475	(3)
3 Statutes dealing with indecency	478	(3)
D Electoral offences	481	(6)
E Offences relating to official information	487	(2)
F Miscellaneous	489	(7)
Chapter 11 Reporting Parliament and Local Authorities	496	(23)
A Local authorities	496	(8)
1 Publicity provisions	497	(2)
(a) Meetings open to public	497	(1)
(b) Agenda	497	(2)
(c) Notice of meetings	499	(1)
(d) Minutes	499	(1)
2 Right to exclude the public	499	(2)
(a) Introduction	499	(1)
(b) Grounds for exclusion	500	(1)
(c) Procedure for exclusion	500	(1)
(d) Minutes	501	(1)
3 Problems about the Act's application	501	(2)
(a) Grounds for exclusion	501	(1)
(b) All-or-nothing exclusion	502	(1)
(c) Leaks	502	(1)
(d) Sanctions	502	(1)
4 Other local bodies	503	(1)
(a) Health	503	(1)
(b) Community trusts	504	(1)
B Parliament	504	(13)
1 The power of Parliament to punish	504	(2)
2 Reporting Parliament	506	(2)
(a) The right to report proceedings of Parliament	506	(1)
(b) The right to broadcast parliamentary proceedings	507	(1)
(c) Select committees	507	(1)
3 Contempt of Parliament	508	(11)
(a) Reflection contempts (para 1)	509	(2)
(b) Divulging proceedings or report of select committee (para n)	511	(3)
(c) Publishing a false or misleading account of proceedings (para h)	514	(1)
(d) Threatening or intimidating a member (para j)	515	(1)
(e) Refusing to provide information, or providing misleading information (paras (b), (p), and (s))	515	(1)
(f) Other matters	515	(2)
Appendix: Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987	517	(2)
Chapter 12 Freedom of Information	519	(29)
A The Official Information Act 1982	519	(11)
1 Organisations subject to the Act	519	(1)
2 Official information	520	(1)
3 The principle of availability	521	(4)
(a) The general principle	521	(1)
(b) Conclusive reasons	521	(1)
(c) Other reasons	522	(2)
(d) Administrative reasons	524	(1)
4 Procedures	525	(1)
5 Granting of request	525	(1)
6 Refusal of request: the Ombudsmen's jurisdiction	526	(2)
7 Other matters	528	(1)
(a) Criminal offences	528	(1)
(b) Publications	528	(1)
(c) Personal information	529	(1)
8 Assessment	529	(1)
B Local government information	530	(3)
1 Local authorities	530	(1)
2 Official information	531	(1)
3 The principle of availability	531	(2)
4 Publication: details of local authority	533	(1)
C Information to which there is a right of access	533	(8)
1 Archives	534	(1)
2 Court records	535	(1)
3 Decisions of tribunals	535	(1)
4 Registers	536	(3)
Public register privacy	538	(1)
5 Local government	539	(1)
6 The Crown and state-owned enterprises	540	(1)
D Information disclosure of which may be refused	541	(1)
E Information with no right of public access	541	(6)
1 The Security Intelligence Service	542	(1)
2 The Serious Fraud Office	543	(1)
3 The police and the penal system	543	(2)
4 Specific occupations	545	(2)
(a) Business and financial details	545	(1)
(b) Personal details	546	(1)
5 The position of the media	547	(1)
F Private documents with a right of access	547	(1)
Chapter 13 Investigation and Interview	548	(28)
A Introduction	548	(1)
B Property	548	(10)
1 Spying and photography	548	(1)
2 Trespass	549	(8)
(a) Definition	549	(5)
(b) Civil remedies for trespass	554	(1)
(c) Criminal penalties	554	(3)
3 Doorstepping	557	(1)
C Information illegally obtained	558	(4)
D Journalists and the authorities	562	(14)
1 The duty to disclose information	563	(7)
(a) To the police	563	(1)
(b) To the courts	564	(4)
(c) Other tribunals	568	(1)
(d) Statutory officers and others	569	(1)
(e) Official Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 1993	569	(1)
2 Public places	570	(2)
(a) The police	570	(2)
(b) Other authorities	572	(1)
3 Searches of property	572	(2)
(a) Police	572	(2)
(b) Other organisations	574	(1)
(c) Private individuals	574	(1)
4 Interception	574	(3)
(a) Police	574	(1)
(b) Other organisations	575	(1)
Chapter 14 Complaints	576	(66)
A Introduction	576	(1)
B The Broadcasting Standards Authority	577	(43)
1 The standards	577	(1)
2 Codes of practice	577	(2)
3 Complaints	579	(34)
(a) The BSA and advertising	582	(2)
(b) Fairness	584	(9)
(c) Accuracy	593	(1)
(d) Balance and impartiality	594	(3)
(e) Good taste and decency	597	(5)
(f) Denigration and discrimination	602	(4)
(g) Privacy-related complaints	606	(2)
(h) Violence	608	(4)
(i) Alcohol promotion	612	(1)
4 The BSA and the Bill of Rights	613	(3)
5 Orders	616	(3)
6 Appeal	619	(1)
C The Press Council	620	(22)
1 Complaints	622	(17)
(a) Letters to the editor	623	(1)
(b) Balance and fairness	624	(2)
(c) Accuracy	626	(1)
(d) Racist references	626	(1)
(e) Journalistic ethics	627	(2)
(f) Complaints by the media	629	(2)
(g) Breach of a court order	631	(2)
(h) Privacy	633	(4)
(i) Bad taste and offensiveness	637	(2)
2 Statements and guidance	639	(1)
3 Conclusion	640	(2)
Chapter 15 The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990	642	(9)
A Freedom of expression	642	(2)
B The cases	644	(5)
1 Common law	644	(2)
(a) Defamation	644	(1)
(b) Contempt of court	644	(2)
(c) Privacy	646	(1)
2 Statute	646	(2)
3 Exercise of powers	648	(1)
C Conclusion	649	(2)
Index	651