Legal Issues

IDAHOT: NGO Coalition on Human Rights calls for Protection of LGBTQI Rights

IDAHOT: NGO Coalition on Human Rights calls for Protection of LGBTQI Rights

17 May 2020 marked the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. The day is marked worldwide to raise awareness on the discrimination and human rights violations faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community. In line with this year’s theme, the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) stands in […]

Cook Island’s First Ever Pride Day Postponed Indefinitely

Cook Island’s First Ever Pride Day Postponed Indefinitely

This month’s Cook Islands Pride Day will not go ahead as a precautionary measure to manage the risk of coronavirus transmission. While there are no cases of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands, organisers of the event have made a decision to put their plans on hold indefinitely. “I’m sure people will understand the reasons for […]

RNZ Mediawatch: Reporting the rainbow while raining on its parade

RNZ Mediawatch: Reporting the rainbow while raining on its parade

Mediawatch takes a look at the pride and prejudice on display in some of the coverage of the LGBTQ community since the announcement that the police had been banned from wearing their uniforms in next year’s Auckland Pride Parade. Mediawatch compares the media coverage of a similar decision in Toronto in 2017 Listen the podcast […]

Petition: Ban Gay Conversion Therapy in New Zealand

Petition: Ban Gay Conversion Therapy in New Zealand

Sign the Petition now calling for a ban on gay conversion thearpy. Often called gay conversion therapy, it’s illegal in some parts of the world, but not in New Zealand. “Therapy” is being offered to “cure” people who find themselves attracted to the same sex, where their attraction is contrary to their own religious beliefs. […]

Evolve Education Fires HIV Positive Women

Evolve Education Fires HIV Positive Women

Evolve Education, an early childhood education company, told parents of children the daycare manager was HIV-positive to dispel any “fear” they might have over possible “danger” to their children. Evolve Education chief executive Mike Finlay was reported as saying this was so the parents were “fully informed of the absolute situation and, if anything, the […]

Anglican Church Approves Possibility of Marriage Blessing

Anglican Church Approves Possibility of Marriage Blessing

The Anglican Church at their recent General Synod Te Hinota Whanui approved Motion 29 which opens the door slightly to recognising same-sex couples. The ruling means same-sex couples still can’t get married in an Anglican church, but they can now get a post-wedding blessing. However, that’s only if the bishop and diocese allow it – […]

Wiping Historical Homosexual Convictions – Application Details

Wiping Historical Homosexual Convictions – Application Details

While consensual sex between men aged 16 and over has been legal in New Zealand since 1986, men with historical homosexual convictions can face ongoing stigma and prejudice. The Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Act 2018 came into force on 10 April 2018. It sets up a scheme to expunge (wipe) […]

Law Change Expunging Historical Homosexual Offences Passes With Unanimous Support

Law Change Expunging Historical Homosexual Offences Passes With Unanimous Support

Parliament has changed the law so New Zealand men with historical homosexual convictions can have them wiped from their criminal records. Consensual sex between men aged 16 and over was decriminalised in 1986, but convictions for offences before that time remained on record and could appear in criminal history checks. The bill was introduced in […]

Stuff: Father’s moving tribute to murdered Zena Campbell

Stuff: Father’s moving tribute to murdered Zena Campbell

Chris Campbell, the father of Zena Campbell, thanked the crowd and gave a moving tribute to his daughter at the vigil at Civic Square on Tuesday night reported Stuff. About 100 people attended Tuesday’s vigil for Zena. The event opened with a karakia by takatāpui group Tīwhanawhana. A moment of silence was observed for Zena, […]

Justice Committee: Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill

Justice Committee: Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill

The Justice Committee has reported on the Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill & Petition 2014/69 of Wiremu Demchick and 2,111 others. Compensation was noted as a point of difference from submissions received. The Justice Committee recommended that no compensation be paid as per Section 22 of the bill with the […]