law
14 Nov 2023

Expert calls for protest laws to be reviewed

From Morning Report, 8:19 am on 14 November 2023

A legal expert says New Zealand's protest laws need to be reviewed to make sure they're still fit for purpose.

It comes as many countries grapple with how to deal with climate protestors fairly.

New laws have been drafted in Britain to create specific offences for protest actions like obstructing major transport works or causing serious disruption by tunnelling.

In New Zealand, protesters could face up to 14 years in jail for "endangering transport", which University of Waikato law Professor Alexander Gillespie says is longer than sentences for more serious crimes.

Gillespie spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.