Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007
Encyclopedia
The Crimes Amendment Act 2007 is an Act of Parliament passed in New Zealand
in 2007. It removed the crime of sedition
from the New Zealand statute book.
, the crime of sedition
had fallen into disuse in New Zealand, with the last prosecutions having occurred in the 1930's. The law was revived in 2004, after political activist Tim Selwyn
threw an axe through the window of Prime Minister Helen Clark
's electorate office. Selwyn was subsequently charged with seditious conspiracy, and convicted in July, 2006. The case, and the police's subsequent use of the sedition law to punish trivial offences, caused widespread concern and prompted calls for the law to be repealed. The government had already asked the Law Commission
to review the law in late 2006, and on 5 April 2007 it released its report formally recommending that the law be repealed. A coalition of four minor parties - ACT New Zealand, the Greens
, the Māori Party
and United Future - who collectively held a balance of power in Parliament, jointly called for repeal. On 7 May 2007 the government responded, announcing its intention to repeal the law.
, who believed that some version of the law was necessary to fight terrorism. The bill passed its third reading 114 - 7 on 24 October 2007, and sedition ceased to be a crime in New Zealand on 1 January 2008.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 2007. It removed the crime of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
from the New Zealand statute book.
Background
While outlawed by the Crimes Act 1961Crimes Act 1961
The Crimes Act 1961 is an Act of the Parliament of New Zealand administered by the Ministry of Justice.-Amendments:The Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 amended the Crimes Act, allowing for consensual homosexual relationships between men....
, the crime of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
had fallen into disuse in New Zealand, with the last prosecutions having occurred in the 1930's. The law was revived in 2004, after political activist Tim Selwyn
Tim Selwyn
Tim Selwyn is a New Zealand political activist who was found guilty of sedition on 8 June 2006, the first person charged with sedition in New Zealand for more than 30 years. He is also editor of magazine, has a with the same name....
threw an axe through the window of Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
's electorate office. Selwyn was subsequently charged with seditious conspiracy, and convicted in July, 2006. The case, and the police's subsequent use of the sedition law to punish trivial offences, caused widespread concern and prompted calls for the law to be repealed. The government had already asked the Law Commission
New Zealand Law Commission
New Zealand's Law Commission was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985. The Commission is a Crown Entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004....
to review the law in late 2006, and on 5 April 2007 it released its report formally recommending that the law be repealed. A coalition of four minor parties - ACT New Zealand, the Greens
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
, the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
and United Future - who collectively held a balance of power in Parliament, jointly called for repeal. On 7 May 2007 the government responded, announcing its intention to repeal the law.
Introduction and passage
The Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 8 June 2007. It was given its first reading on 14 and 19 June, and passed unanimously. On 24 August, the Justice and Electoral Select Committee recommended it proceed without amendment. Despite unanimous support during its early stages, the bill was opposed during its second and third readings by the New Zealand First PartyNew Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
, who believed that some version of the law was necessary to fight terrorism. The bill passed its third reading 114 - 7 on 24 October 2007, and sedition ceased to be a crime in New Zealand on 1 January 2008.