In a key New Zealand defamation case (Lange v Atkinson [2000] 3 NZLR 385), Lange sued political scientist Joe Atkinson for representing him in the magazine North & South as a lazy prime minister. In a 1998 judgment, and on appeal in 2000, the courts affirmed a new qualified privilege for the media to discuss politicians when expressing the criticisms as the “honest opinion” of the author.

It is therefore my opinion that Bill Carrig, and others honestly believe what was written in Bill’s letter. It therefore falls into qualified privilege. It also stands to reason that the Waiheke media should climb out from behind the fear of legal retribution and say it as you believe is true. Nobilangelo is a duly elected community board member and as such is open to grater scrutiny than Mr Joe Public.

Defaming Politicians