Sociology and Criminology Seminar Series:
Dylan Asafo, Faculty of Law
- Date: Thursday 1 April 2021
- Time: 11am-12pm
- Via Zoom: Meeting ID 944 7999 5190, Passcode 732977
This presentation will examine hate speech laws in Aotearoa New Zealand though a Critical Race Theory lens It will begin by outlining and critiquing our current hate speech legislative provisions contained in the Human Rights Act 1993 and our leading case authority interpreting these provisions, Wall v Fairfax It will then outline and critique the steps the government has taken to reform our hate speech legislation following the Christchurch terrorist attacks, and the current challenges it faces in overcoming concerns regarding the right to freedom of expression as protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 Finally, it will suggest potential ways in which these concerns can be overcome to initiate law reform that will respond to the needs and aspirations of marginalised communities most impacted by hate speech in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Dylan Asafo is a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, researching the areas of racial justice and Pacific legal issues As a Fulbright scholar he completed his Master of Laws at Harvard Law School, which included research comparing New Zealand and US hate speech laws.
Hosted by the Public Policy Institute
