Helen Joyce barred from... taking notes?

I'm on the ground with prominent Irish author and journalist Helen Joyce during our jam-packed tour. I am stepping into our public event in Hamilton with Helen, but need to quickly tell you this extraordinary story.

Remember the case between Wellington Pride Festival and Lesbian Action for Visibility Aotearoa (LAVA) that is currently before the Human Rights Review Tribunal?

We recently told you that the tribunal had outrageously barred journalist Jenny Ruth from reporting on it (while claiming that 'accredited media' could).

Well, you won't believe what happened today. 

The last reply of the hearing is in Wellington tomorrow afternoon, and we intend to take Helen to witness it. Helen, the thorough journalist that she is, emailed ahead, asking for a copy of the transcripts and to sit at the media seats.

Not only was Helen denied, she was told that she couldn't even take notes from the public gallery! So, after 17 years of writing for the Economist, you don't count as a journalist?! You can't make this stuff up! 

The Ministry of Justice's justification? That as an overseas journalist, she is not subject to either the Media Council or the BSA and therefore cannot be “accredited” to report on the hearing.

So, the Tribunal’s has fully protected itself from independent and international
scrutiny? Between that and the fact mainstream media have shown very little interest in covering this, it appears to be under wraps.

As Helen said to me today: “In my 17 years at The Economist, I’ve covered courts, tribunals, and parliaments around the world, and I’ve never encountered anything like this. The New Zealand Human Rights Review Tribunal seems frightened of scrutiny. A body charged with defending human rights should stand up for the principle of open justice, which is crucial to a functioning democracy, rather than hiding behind bureaucracy to close reporting down.”

It is profoundly ironic that a Human Rights Review Tribunal, an institution designed to uphold fundamental freedoms, should be the body now stifling those very rights. If this doesn't undermine trust in the courts, what will?!

We have urgently contacted the Minister of Justice, urging him to intervene. This is not an operational matter. This is a constitutional embarrassment. 

The media and the public should get to discuss matters of public interest. Transparency is what builds trust and undermines open justice. But this is simply disgraceful. We won't let it stand.

If we don't fight this, who will? Chip in here to keep us on the front line, fighting for your speech rights.

I'll keep you posted. 

Jillaine Heather | Chief Executive