Peters v Electoral Commission

[2016] NZHC 394

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON REGISTRY

CIV 2015-485-222 [2015] NZHC 394

UNDER	the Judicature Amendment Act 1972
IN THE MATTER OF	an application for judicial review
BETWEEN	WINSTON PETERS Applicant
AND	THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION Respondent

Hearing:	12 October 2015
Appearances:	B P Henry and A M Dunlop for the Applicant P J Gunn and M J McKillop for the Respondent
Judgment:	9 March 2016

JUDGMENT OF MALLON J

Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... [1] Background........................................................................................................................................ [5] The legislation .................................................................................................................................. [14] Industry regulation of advertisements........................................................................................... [20] Is the decision reviewable? ............................................................................................................. [23] The meaning of “publishes” ........................................................................................................... [29]

Approach ...................................................................................................................................... [29] Section 199A................................................................................................................................. [30] “Publishes” .................................................................................................................................. [31] “Publishes” in context of s 199A ................................................................................................. [40] “Publishes” in the context of s 197 .............................................................................................. [42] Distinction between first publication and continuing publications elsewhere in the Act ............. [52] Parliamentary materials............................................................................................................... [57] Public place .................................................................................................................................. [79] Interpretation consistent with New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 ............................................ [85]

Is relief appropriate?....................................................................................................................... [87] Result ................................................................................................................................................ [90]

Costs ................................................................................................................................................. [91]

PETERS v THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION [2015] NZHC 394 [9 March 2016]

Introduction

[1]      The issue before me is the meaning of “publishes” in s 199A of the Electoral Act 1993 (the Act).  Under that section a person who “publishes” a statement of fact that he or she knows is false, with the intention of influencing the vote of any elector, commits  an  offence if  they do  so  at  any time  on  polling day or the  two  days immediately preceding polling day.

[2]      The issue arises in the context of the 2014 general election which was held on

20 September 2014.   It concerns two political party advertisements which were available on the internet on 18 and 19 September 2014 and earlier.  The particular issue is whether “publishes” means first published in the prohibited period (that is, on polling day or the two preceding days), or whether it includes advertisements which were first published earlier than the prohibited period but which continue to be published during that period.

[3]      The issue comes to this court on an application for judicial review brought by the Right Honourable Winston Peters, the Leader of New Zealand First, a party contesting the 2014 election.   He made a complaint to the Electoral Commission about the two advertisements, contending that they breached s 199A and that the Commission should refer the matter to the police.   The Electoral Commission responded advising that it considered the advertisements did not breach s 199A and it gave reasons for this view.

[4]      The Electoral Commission considers that its response to the complaint is not a reviewable decision.1    If I accept that submission, the parties are content for the Court to consider the issue as though it was before me as an application under the

Declaratory Judgments Act 1908.

1      The Electoral Commission has, as it has in other cases, participated in order to assist the Court in the absence of another named contradictor.