Latest news with #HarmfulDigitalCommunicationsAct
The Spinoff
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Chung's non-apology deepens storm over sexist smear campaign
He promised to make a public apology to Tory Whanau. Instead, mayoral hopeful Ray Chung last night issued a video statement in which he claimed to be the victim of a dirty tricks campaign, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. No apology, no accountability Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung is facing a growing backlash after failing to deliver a promised apology over a degrading email he sent about current mayor Tory Whanau. Chung claimed over the weekend he had scripted an 'unequivocal apology' for the 2023 email in which he circulated a second-hand rumour describing Whanau's supposed 'night of debauchery'. Instead, last night he published a video statement alleging the email leak was part of a 'concerted campaign' to discredit him. In the video, Chung said he regretted writing the email and sharing it 'with people whom I thought trustworthy'. As reported by Tom Hunt in the Weekend Post (paywalled), Chung had at one point told the paper he didn't see why he should apologise at all, 'due to embarrassment he said Whanau caused him at a conference a couple of years back'. Whanau says she is yet to hear from Chung directly following the email revelation. It's fair to say that for many, his dithering, tin-eared response has only reinforced the original offence, and the perception that he's unfit for leadership. Whanau considers legal action over smear campaign The mayor, meanwhile, has signalled she is no longer willing to stay silent. In a detailed public statement, Whanau said she is seeking legal advice over what she called a campaign of 'malicious, sexist rumours' spread by both Chung and fellow mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham. 'Throughout this term, I've endured a constant stream of false and malicious rumours,' she wrote. 'I've chosen to stay focused on our city's progress and ignore this behaviour – until now.' Whanau's legal threats could encompass action under the Harmful Digital Communications Act and potentially a trespass order against Bloxham, who posted about her on LinkedIn and the Wellington Live platform which he is still fronting, though he now claims not to own it. 'These lies often start online, but their impact in real life can be devastating,' Whanau wrote. 'They are a tactic designed to dehumanise, wear people down, and discourage good people from standing for public office.' 'Trump without the tactics' Chung's email scandal is just the latest in a long list of controversies. In a blistering Windbag column published in The Spinoff this morning, Joel MacManus argues that the councillor had disgraced himself long before the Whanau email surfaced. Chung has been accused by colleagues of making wildly inappropriate comments in the council offices, including a grotesque remark about a deceased young man and repeated verbal abuse directed at Whanau. He has compared council sustainability efforts to the Cambodian genocide and frequently loses his temper or gets procedural basics wrong in meetings. 'He lacks the intellectual and temperamental qualities that we should expect from our elected officials,' Joel writes. 'Ray Chung is Trump without the tactics. Winston Peters without the wit. Wayne Brown without the brains. The human personification of the angriest and least-informed comment section on Facebook.' Chung, Joel notes, became the default candidate on the right thanks to an aggressive campaign and early fundraising – potentially blocking more competent right-leaning contenders from stepping forward. Controversy engulfs Independent Together and Better Wellington The furore around Chung has capped a disastrous 10 days for his campaign ticket Independent Together (IT) and its backer Better Wellington. As The Post's Andrea Vance revealed on Wednesday (paywalled), a Better Wellington–commissioned opposition research dossier labelled one candidate a 'Labour Covidian', mocked others for supporting te reo or climate action, and described a Māori hopeful as 'brazenly and belligerently pro-Māori'. The group later distanced itself from the report, claiming the researcher had gone 'mad'. Separately, Better Wellington social media accounts mocked councillor Ben McNulty – including references to his children – and boosted an attack from IT candidate Lily Brown, who misrepresented mayor frontrunner Andrew Little's remarks at a mayoral debate. Brown was later forced to issue a clarification. Chung has alternated between disavowing knowledge of these attacks and downplaying their significance. But with legal threats mounting and key financial backer Mark Dunajtschik withdrawing his support, his campaign is flailing. For a group supposedly committed to 'bringing back sanity' to Wellington politics, Independent Together's tactics are suggesting just the opposite.
NZ Herald
13-06-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Media Insider: ‘Huge victory' - District Court lifts gagging order on NZ-Chinese journalist against pro-Beijing political figure
A court decision has been labelled a 'huge victory' for freedom of speech and sparked calls for a deeper review of the Harmful Digital Communications Act. A district court judge says he is 'seriously concerned' about the way an Auckland-based, pro-Beijing political activist successfully sought a court order to gag
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Huge Victory For Free Speech: Journalist Gagged For Exposing Chinese Communist Party Interference In NZ Wins Court Case
Press Release – Free Speech Union The Free Speech Union is embarking on extensive work to thoroughly review the HDCA, analysing all decisions ever made under it, and will present this to the Minister of Justice later in the year. We cannot stand by while individuals like Portia are … Portia Mao, a Kiwi-Chinese journalist who was gagged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) for exposing foreign interference in New Zealand, has won her court case with the Free Speech Union's help. This is a major victory, not just for Portia, but for all Kiwis' speech rights, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. 'We're thrilled that Portia Mao, represented by the Free Speech Union, has won her court case and is no longer gagged by New Zealand law after calling out the Chinese Communist Party's overreach in New Zealand. This is excellent news for all Kiwis. 'CCP stooge, Morgan Zhihong Xiao, sought interim orders under the HDCA against Portia Mao, alleging online defamation and harassment. The initial orders (granted without notice!) required Portia to remove online commentary and apologise. With the FSU's representation, Portia applied to be heard and have the orders discharged. Judge McIlraith ruled in Portia's favour. 'The Court also rightly warned against weaponising legal tools to silence criticism, especially in political debate. The HDCA, while created with good intentions, has been weaponised now in a number of cases to silence dissent. 'Portia's victory is a huge step in pushing back on this flawed law. It was also essential for ensuring criticising foreign powers remains a legal right in New Zealand. If governments, foreign or not, can twist our own law to stop us from exposing them, then we are not free. 'The Free Speech Union is embarking on extensive work to thoroughly review the HDCA, analysing all decisions ever made under it, and will present this to the Minister of Justice later in the year. We cannot stand by while individuals like Portia are unjustly silenced. 'When a brave journalist is gagged for putting their neck on the line in our country, alarm bells should ring. Portia's victory was made possible by the thousands of Kiwis who support our work, and this result is the best outcome to protect all Kiwis' rights to seek, receive, and impart information.'
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Huge Victory For Free Speech: Journalist Gagged For Exposing Chinese Communist Party Interference In NZ Wins Court Case
Press Release – Free Speech Union The Free Speech Union is embarking on extensive work to thoroughly review the HDCA, analysing all decisions ever made under it, and will present this to the Minister of Justice later in the year. We cannot stand by while individuals like Portia are … Portia Mao, a Kiwi-Chinese journalist who was gagged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) for exposing foreign interference in New Zealand, has won her court case with the Free Speech Union's help. This is a major victory, not just for Portia, but for all Kiwis' speech rights, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. 'We're thrilled that Portia Mao, represented by the Free Speech Union, has won her court case and is no longer gagged by New Zealand law after calling out the Chinese Communist Party's overreach in New Zealand. This is excellent news for all Kiwis. 'CCP stooge, Morgan Zhihong Xiao, sought interim orders under the HDCA against Portia Mao, alleging online defamation and harassment. The initial orders (granted without notice!) required Portia to remove online commentary and apologise. With the FSU's representation, Portia applied to be heard and have the orders discharged. Judge McIlraith ruled in Portia's favour. 'The Court also rightly warned against weaponising legal tools to silence criticism, especially in political debate. The HDCA, while created with good intentions, has been weaponised now in a number of cases to silence dissent. 'Portia's victory is a huge step in pushing back on this flawed law. It was also essential for ensuring criticising foreign powers remains a legal right in New Zealand. If governments, foreign or not, can twist our own law to stop us from exposing them, then we are not free. 'The Free Speech Union is embarking on extensive work to thoroughly review the HDCA, analysing all decisions ever made under it, and will present this to the Minister of Justice later in the year. We cannot stand by while individuals like Portia are unjustly silenced. 'When a brave journalist is gagged for putting their neck on the line in our country, alarm bells should ring. Portia's victory was made possible by the thousands of Kiwis who support our work, and this result is the best outcome to protect all Kiwis' rights to seek, receive, and impart information.'
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Huge Victory For Free Speech: Journalist Gagged For Exposing Chinese Communist Party Interference In NZ Wins Court Case
Portia Mao, a Kiwi-Chinese journalist who was gagged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) for exposing foreign interference in New Zealand, has won her court case with the Free Speech Union's help. This is a major victory, not just for Portia, but for all Kiwis' speech rights, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. 'We're thrilled that Portia Mao, represented by the Free Speech Union, has won her court case and is no longer gagged by New Zealand law after calling out the Chinese Communist Party's overreach in New Zealand. This is excellent news for all Kiwis. 'CCP stooge, Morgan Zhihong Xiao, sought interim orders under the HDCA against Portia Mao, alleging online defamation and harassment. The initial orders (granted without notice!) required Portia to remove online commentary and apologise. With the FSU's representation, Portia applied to be heard and have the orders discharged. Judge McIlraith ruled in Portia's favour. 'The Court also rightly warned against weaponising legal tools to silence criticism, especially in political debate. The HDCA, while created with good intentions, has been weaponised now in a number of cases to silence dissent. 'Portia's victory is a huge step in pushing back on this flawed law. It was also essential for ensuring criticising foreign powers remains a legal right in New Zealand. If governments, foreign or not, can twist our own law to stop us from exposing them, then we are not free. 'The Free Speech Union is embarking on extensive work to thoroughly review the HDCA, analysing all decisions ever made under it, and will present this to the Minister of Justice later in the year. We cannot stand by while individuals like Portia are unjustly silenced. 'When a brave journalist is gagged for putting their neck on the line in our country, alarm bells should ring. Portia's victory was made possible by the thousands of Kiwis who support our work, and this result is the best outcome to protect all Kiwis' rights to seek, receive, and impart information.'
