Maxim Institute

real issues.
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this week: No. 123, 12 AUGUST 2004

Contents:
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* Non-hierarchical Supreme Court defies its purpose
* Hate Speech - The right not to be offended?
* New School provides more choice

Non-hierarchical Supreme Court defies its purpose

Setting up a new Supreme Court in New Zealand continues to create problems around ideals of authority and tradition. The Ministry of Justice plans to demolish large parts of the Wellington High Court building to create, for Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias, a non-hierarchical court room. In this new committee-style courtroom the judge, lawyers and litigants will all be seated on the same level. The elevated bench is to disappear.

The Prime Minister, however, wants to protect the historic building and existing form of the court. It is a good principle for judges to "stick to the bench". Hierarchy is important after all. Judges need to be above the litigants precisely because they are making judgments. Ideally a crown (coat of arms) or national symbol should be above the judges to tangibly reinforce the fact that both the judiciary and litigants are subject to the same law.

Symbolism is obviously important to the Chief Justice, but it must reflect the reality that we can't have justice without authority and therefore, a form of hierarchy. Judges in New Zealand's highest court have full authority to make final binding decisions on a case. A non-hierarchical Supreme Court is an oxymoron.

Discuss this article in our on-line discussion forum: http://www.maxim.org.nz/discuss/?topic=123.1

Hate Speech - The right not to be offended?

The launch of an inquiry into whether New Zealand should prohibit "hate speech" might reveal our willingness to trade freedom of expression for increasing state control of public conversation.

Freedom of speech is not absolute. Law and social stigma also play a role in discouraging undesirable comments. And, of course, there remain the necessary laws surrounding defamation.

Justice Minister Phil Goff has rightfully asserted that "the point of the inquiry cannot be to stop expression of hateful opinion, even if we utterly reject that opinion." Then he goes on to say, "It is when expression of that opinion risks leading directly to harm to the group against which it is directed that the law has a role to play." But should we hold someone legally liable for another person's reaction to what he or she says?

When we use the law to inhibit what people say, we transfer power away from the individual citizen, and their need to show personal responsibility, and onto the state.

At the heart of any theory of policing "hate speech" is the concept of thought control. It will intimidate all of us into particular ways of thinking. It is a tool that can too easily be employed by any government to silence those who express a contrary opinion.

The Government Administration committee intends to call for public submissions on the inquiry and has set a closing date for submissions of 5.00 pm on Friday, 1 October 2004. For more information on the terms of reference for the committee's inquiry visit:

http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Programme/Committees/PressReleases/6aug04.htm

Discuss this article in our on-line discussion forum:

http://www.maxim.org.nz/discuss/?topic=123.2

New School provides more choice

Students in the Taupo region will soon be able to attend a private school close to home. The Lake Taupo Development Company (which receives money from the local authority) has just secured a private provider to set up a 600-pupil co-educational, non-religious school in the region.

This is great news for the 1,000 Taupo students who currently travel outside the district to be schooled. It is also great news for parents in the community who have indicated, during consultation on the economic development strategy for the region, that they wanted a private school. The important question to be asked is why there is such demand for alternatives to state schools in the first place.

Parents recognise that their children are unique and that different children will excel in different schools. When it comes to schooling, "one-size" does not fit all, and parents will go to great lengths to choose the school that suits their children best.

However, only parents who can afford it will get this choice. All parents throughout New Zealand should be able to choose the best possible education for their children.

Discuss this article in our on-line discussion forum:

http://www.maxim.org.nz/discuss/?topic=123.3

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - Margaret Thatcher

Being democratic is not enough, for a majority cannot turn what is wrong into right. In order to be considered truly free, countries must also have a deep love of liberty and an abiding respect for the rule of law.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>