Watson v Electoral Commission

[2015] NZHC 666

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON REGISTRY

CIV-2014-485-11152 [2015] NZHC 666

UNDER

the Declaratory Judgments Act 1908 and

Part 18 of the High Court Rules

BETWEEN

DARREN HAMISH WATSON First Plaintiff

JEREMY THORNTON JONES Second Plaintiff

AND

ELECTORAL COMMISSION Defendant

Hearing:	11 September 2014
Appearances:	W L Aldred and J S McHerron for plaintiffs A M Powell and S J Humphrey for defendant
Judgment:	2 April 2015

JUDGMENT OF CLIFFORD J

WATSON & JONES v ELECTORAL COMMISSION [2015] NZHC 666 [2 April 2015]

Contents

Introduction ..............................................................................................................[1] The Song and the Music Video..............................................................................[24] The law – an overview

The Electoral Act 1993 ................................................................................[32] The Broadcasting Act ..................................................................................[43] The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 ..................................................[51]

The Commission’s advisory opinion.....................................................................[55]

The plaintiffs’ submissions

General approach ........................................................................................[58]

Electoral Act

Not election advertisements...............................................................[64]

If election advertisements, editorial content or personal political

views ..................................................................................................[68] Editorial content of a programme .....................................................[69] Personal political views published online .........................................[75]

The Broadcasting Act

Not election programmes...................................................................[77]

If election programmes, comments ....................................................[79]

The Commission’s submissions .............................................................................[81]

General approach ........................................................................................[82]

The Electoral Act

Election advertisements .....................................................................[84]

Not editorial content or personal political views ..............................[95]

Broadcasting Act

Election programmes.........................................................................[96]

Not comments ....................................................................................[98]

Analysis

Statutory interpretation and NZBORA.......................................................[99]

Legislative history Overview.......................................................................................... [114] Electoral law in 1986 ...................................................................... [115] Broadcasting law in 1986 ................................................................ [118] Towards a Better Democracy ..........................................................[130] The Electoral Act 1993 ....................................................................[139] The Broadcasting Act 1989 .............................................................[153]

Justified limitations - the proportionality test ..........................................[156] Are the Song and the Music Video election advertisements? ..................[176] Are the Song and the Music Video, if broadcast, election

programmes? .............................................................................................[195]

WATSON & JONES v ELECTORAL COMMISSION [2015] NZHC 666 [2 April 2015]

Editorial content/comments programmes?...............................................[212]

Personal political views? ...........................................................................[227] Outcome ................................................................................................................[237]

APPENDIX

Introduction

[1]      In the lead up to the 2014 general election, Darren Watson, the first plaintiff, wrote and recorded a song entitled “Planet Key” (the Song).   Jeremy Jones, the second plaintiff, then created a video to accompany the song (the Music Video).

[2]      In  early August  2014  Mr Watson  released  the  Song  on  iTunes  (for  paid download) and Mr Jones uploaded the Music Video to the Vimeo and YouTube video websites (for free viewing).  Mr Watson also offered free downloads of the Song to some smaller radio stations he thought might play it.

[3]      It cost $1.79 to download the Song from iTunes.  Of that, 80c would be paid to “the artist”.   Messrs Watson and Jones agreed to share equally any money generated that way.  Any royalties earned from the Song being broadcast on radio would be retained by Mr Watson.

[4]      The Song came to the attention of the defendant, the Electoral Commission (the Commission), as the result of an enquiry from the Programme Director of FreeFM Hamilton on 5 August 2014.  She asked whether it was okay for the station’s volunteer broadcasters to play the Song on their radio shows.   The Commission listened to…