DTNZ: Government moves to ban protests outside private homes

The Government is introducing a new law to curb targeted and disruptive protests outside people’s homes, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced.

Goldsmith said while the right to protest is a cornerstone of “New Zealand’s democracy”, recent incidents of demonstrations targeting private residences — particularly those of public figures such as MPs, judges, and officials — had raised concerns about privacy and safety.

“Everyone in New Zealand, and their families, should be able to expect peace and privacy in their own home, no matter what their daytime job is,” he said. “We intend to stop this intrusive behaviour, while protecting the public’s right to demonstrate in a reasonable manner.”

The legislation will create a new offence for engaging in a targeted, disruptive demonstration outside a residential property, with penalties of up to three months in jail or a $2,000 fine. The offence will only apply to protests directed at a person in their home and will consider factors such as the time of day, duration, noise levels, actions of demonstrators, and proximity to the residence.

Goldsmith emphasised that the measure is a “reasonable limitation” under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, balancing the right to protest with the right to privacy. “Unreasonable intrusions into people’s privacy are simply unacceptable,” he said.

Daily Telegraph New Zealand (DTNZ) is an independent news website, first published in October 2021. - where this article was sourced.