Rights Aotearoa condemns the profoundly unbalanced reporting published by RNZ last Thursday regarding the life of a young transgender man who was failed by multiple systems and institutions. The deliberate erasure of Alex's transgender identity posthumously represents a catastrophic failure of journalistic integrity and basic human dignity.

At 10:27 AM on the day of publication, immediately following the story's release, a highly credible source with intimate knowledge of Alex contacted Ruth Hill via email, offering information that directly contradicted the published narrative. This correspondence was genuine, properly addressed, and invited immediate action. Rights Aotearoa has reviewed the information and transmission logs, confirming that the email was sent correctly. Despite this, RNZ's Mark Stevens claims the email never reached Ruth Hill's inbox. This assertion is categorically rejected.

The source in question subsequently provided information to two trusted journalists, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring accurate reporting. When Mark Stevens requested Rights Aotearoa facilitate contact with this source yesterday, we complied. What transpires from this engagement remains to be seen.

Rights Aotearoa's position throughout this matter has remained consistent: we are concerned solely with the integrity of the coronial process and the preservation of Alex's memory. Cisgender individuals have no authority to erase transgender people's identities in death, and such actions constitute a profound violation of human dignity.

Rights Aotearoa will refrain from further public commentary whilst this matter proceeds through appropriate channels. Our external counsel will formally communicate what we know to the Coroner, ensuring the coronial process receives all relevant information.

Formal complaints will be lodged with both the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Media Council regarding RNZ's conduct. Unfortunately, those avenues are not available for The Platform – Sean Plunket’s personal disinformation show and vehicle for transgender hatred – because he deliberately set it up to be unaccountable under existing media oversight frameworks. Thus, our primary avenue for securing justice for Alex will be through the Human Rights Commission. Following comprehensive legal advice, Rights Aotearoa will file a complaint against RNZ, The Platform, and Fern Hickson. We will advance the same legal principles that led the Supreme Court to recognise interests in reputation after death in criminal matters, seeking similar recognition – in the first instance - from the Human Rights Review Tribunal regarding posthumous discrimination. We will take this all the way to the Supreme Court to get justice for Alex.

Statement from Paul Thistoll, CEO of Rights Aotearoa:

"There is only one person responsible for transforming the life of Alex—a young man who was failed by numerous people and agencies—into a political football, and that person is Fern Hickson of Resist Gender Education NZ. 

Fern Hickson desires a world without transgender people, and she pursues her eliminationist agenda by preventing young people from transitioning. This is her objective, and it is where she directs all her worldly energy, and it is stark. She has coordinated with anti-transgender activists regarding this matter for over eighteen months. Graham Linehan was informed about this story in March 2024, while he was in New Zealand, which facilitated international coordination of narratives. Any distress caused to Alex's parents stems directly from anti-transgender activists who are so utterly, utterly warped, deluded, and morally bankrupt that they will exploit the tragic death of a young man as a political pawn. Fern, Ani and Jan are all culpable in this matter. They all hate trans people and RNZ got played.”

"Furthermore, it is evident that catastrophic failures in editorial judgement have occurred at RNZ. I reiterate my call for an independent enquiry led by a King's Counsel."

Rights Aotearoa, nor our CEO, will be making any further comments in the interim. We have full trust in the coronial process.

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