 Public submissions for the Crimes Amendment Bill (Repeal of Seditious Offences) are now being invited. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 17 July 2007. This bill proposes the repeal of sections 81 to 85 of the Crimes Act 1961. It is based upon the recommendations of the Law Commission, which considered that seditious offences are overly broad and uncertain, may infringe upon the principle of freedom of expression, and have the potential for abuse. The bill is available for download by clicking here. Print copies can be ordered online from Bennetts Government Bookshops.
The committee requires 2 copies of each submission if made in writing. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the clerk of the committee, as submissions are usually released to the public by the committee. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. To assist with administration please supply your postcode and an email address if you have one.
In Issue 9 (2006) we brought you the story of Tim Selwyn who was convicted of sedition, when he put an axe through the Prime Minister's Auckland electorate office in the 2004 protest against the impending Foreshore and Seabed Act, after which he distributed a pamphlet calling on the public to "commit their own acts of civil disobedience to send a clear message that such injustice can never be accepted". Selwyn became the first person in the 20th century to be convicted with such a crime. The Maori Party and Green Party spoke out against this saying it was an antiquated law that was in need of change.
A hui at West Harbour's Te Piringatahi o te Maungarongo Marae aims to help raise Maori awareness about this year's local body elections. The hui on July 17 starts at 6.30pm.
"Waitakere City Council Maori relationships manager Wayne Knox says, "This is an opportunity for Maori interested in making their vote count or standing in the 2007 elections to learn more about the nomination and election processes and the roles of councils and elected members."
He says this is a chance to have questions answered and goes on to say how important Maori having a voice in local body politics is, and importantly that they are enrolled to vote for the October ballot.
Electoral officer Darryl Griffin agrees saying, "We are encouraging anyone who wants to make a difference in the local community to stand."
There is a vital need for people of diverse backgrounds to stand and represent, including elected members of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.
Anyone aged 18 (or older) can vote or stand in the local body elections if they are enrolled on either the Maori or general electoral rolls. Mr Griffin says the council has the second lowest level of voter participation in the country. Just 35.8 percent of eligible voters posted a ballot at the last election in 2004. Nominations for candidates open on July 27 and close on August 24.
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Creative Commons 2007