The defamation trial between Sir Robert Jones and Renae Maihi saw Sir Robert’s lawyer Fletcher Pilditch corrected on his reference to his client as “Sir Jones”, as the Wellington trial commenced today.
Pilditch, a former Crown Prosecutor in Rotorua, will need to be on his mettle for a case involving a satirical column written about Maori in the National Business Review.
Sir Robert, a well known commentator, humourist, libertarian and writer as well as a long-standing businessman and LawFuel contributor, is preparing a robust defence of the allegation of racism. He is seeking a declaration of defamation rather than damages.
[adrotate banner=”90″]
The 2018 column was taken as offensive and resulted in a petition, organised by the defendant Mihi, of almost 70,000 seeking to strip Sir Robert of the knighthood that Pilditch was having difficulty using correctly.
Howeever the clarification of the legal definition of ‘racism’, the issue of free speech and the increasing clamour for strong ‘hate speech’ laws will be a central focus for the case.
Whilst the Human Rights Act prevents speech that may arouse hostility on the grounds of race (among others), the Bill of Rights Act preserves the right to free speech.
>> Latest Law Jobs Here
Recently on LawFuel
- Auckland Law Faculty Merger Decision Delayed Amid Transparency ConcernsThe University of Auckland has put the brakes on a critical and controversial vote regarding the proposed merger between its law and business faculties, following significant pushback from the law profession over transparency… Read more: Auckland Law Faculty Merger Decision Delayed Amid Transparency Concerns
- New Zealand Gender Ratio at Higher Courts Shows Underrepresentation of WomenThe New Zealand Bar Association’s latest report on the gender ratio of counsel in higher courts highlights a persistent issue of underrepresentation of women who make up 55 percent of the legal profession… Read more: New Zealand Gender Ratio at Higher Courts Shows Underrepresentation of Women
- Elite Litigators Join NZ Law Power ListAlthough senior KCs and other barristers continue to exert their influence within the legal profession a younger group of litigators are already playing a key role in major litigation. Although commercial lawyers like… Read more: Elite Litigators Join NZ Law Power List
- New Zealands Top LawyersLawFuel Power List 2024 During the year, the legal profession has seen new entrants, as an emerging number of influential commercial lawyers and litigators increasingly exert their influence over the profession. Women continue… Read more: New Zealands Top Lawyers
- New Zealand Lawyer News – 15 New Senior Solicitors at Chapman TrippHarrison Cooper, Morgan Dalton-Mill, Trent Harris, Madeleine Hay, Josh Hayes, Emily James, David Keogh, Ella Knoester, Daniel Maier-Gant, Rebecca Meikle, Georgia Moore, Tallulah Parker, Ruby Tinson and Romy Wales have all been promoted,… Read more: New Zealand Lawyer News – 15 New Senior Solicitors at Chapman Tripp
