Freedom of Religion, Hate Speech, and Treaties

Hate speech has been the subject of much debate in Congress recently. The debate centers on protecting individuals from such speech through human rights law.

It was an ongoing question with pros and cons. Should this law be expanded?

The law already explicitly protects people from being targeted for hate speech because of their color, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Now the government has decided to amend this law. Justice Minister Kiri Alan said it specifically included religious groups.

Cardinal John Dew is one religious leader likely to strongly support the amendment.

In fact, in a sermon at a multi-denominational church service in Waitangi in 2020, he reiterated to all of us to protect the faith of all religious and non-religious people. I said I want

“To protect the faiths, Maori practices and spirituality of all people here, the various Christian denominations, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Baha’i and many others. It’s time to renegotiate, and that includes freedom of religion and freedom of conscience for those who don’t profess their faith,” he said.

He pointed out that religious tolerance, religious inclusion and religious acceptance are traditions in New Zealand.

This heritage was sealed when the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) was signed in 1840.

At the time, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier New Zealand was New Zealand’s first Catholic bishop and called for religious freedom to be respected.

In response, the royal representative, Captain William Hobson, formally affirmed: Maori practices shall also be protected as well. “

Why the Religious Freedom Amendment Was Passed

The current amendment to human rights law builds on recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry in response to the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attacks.

After extensive consultation, six proposals received over 19,000 submissions.

Although only one change to the law has been agreed, the government says it intends to seek further work in collaboration with wider groups.

These groups may include women, people with disabilities, and rainbow communities.

discussion continues

Divisive policy debates over the expansion of human rights law may continue.

For example, not everyone agrees that expanding the law to include protections from hate speech is a good idea.

Not surprisingly, the Free Speech Union does not endorse it.

The coalition commends ministers for listening to the overwhelming public response to support free speech.

“Hate speech laws don’t work. For more than 18 months, we have been calling on the government to drop the idea that we can outlaw hate.

“Over 80% of the proposals against the ‘hate speech law’ proposal specifically supported our proposal, with over 50,000 signatures.

“Two justice ministers have handed over this poisoned chalice to the judicial commission after failing to push the ideological agenda of expanding ‘hate speech’ laws…

“The Ministry of Justice has been working on this very issue for more than two years now.

“If hate speech laws don’t work for other ‘vulnerable communities,’ then the whole venture needs to be rethought. “

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