London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern hammered for pushing hate speech law… that even she doesn’t understand

New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern hammered for pushing hate speech law… that even she doesn’t understand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been accused of “misleading the public” in a disastrous radio interview defending a proposed hate speech law, which could see offenders jailed for three years for offensive words.

Under proposed legislative changes unveiled last week, hate speech could become a criminal offense in New Zealand. Anyone who “intentionally stirs up, maintains or normalizes hatred against a protected group” by being “threatening, abusive or insulting, including by inciting violence” would break the law, and hence could face up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to NZ$50,000 (US$35,182).

The list of “protected groups” has yet to be drawn up, but Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said last week that “political opinion” would be protected. Religion too will be included, a given considering the new law was proposed in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shooting in 2019.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is under fire for apparently “misleading the public” on the severity of the new law. In a TV interview on Monday, Ardern claimed that the proposed law was “not about lowering the threshold,” even though “normalizing hatred” is a lower bar than ‘incitement to violence’ prohibited by the current law.


Ardern contradicted Faafoi’s claim that political opinion would be protected, and said that the proposed law was only drafted after the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Christchurch shooting called for religion to be considered a protected group. Neither are true: political opinion is explicitly labeled in a government document explaining the new law, and Ardern is on record calling for expanded hate speech laws before the Royal Commission’s report was released last year.

Her performance drew heavy criticism. “Ardern does not understand the extent of what is proposed, as was evident by her comments on the AM show today,” journalist Audrey Young wrote on Monday. “She needs to get a better handle on the proposals in order to credibly argue for them.”

“If the person making the law can’t work it out, what hope do the police, courts or poor old citizens who just want to follow it have?” David Seymour, leader of the center-right ACT party, said in a radio interview after Ardern’s TV appearance.




Ardern has called for public debate on the proposed law, and urged opposition parties to give their input in crafting the final piece of legislation. However, both ACT and the National Party have outright opposed any new law beyond the current prohibition on incitement.

“It’s already in the law, it’s a criminal offense to incite violence,” National Party leader Judith Collins said on Monday. “We believe that as part of a liberal democracy, that people do have to have the ability to make idiots of themselves from time to time, doesn’t mean to say that they’re criminals.”

Collins promised that her party “will reverse any attempts the government makes to criminalize speech beyond the threshold of ‘inciting violence.’”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×