Summary
THE Flags, Emblems and Name Protection Act 1981 became law against a background of the Springbok tour of that year. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon knew he had to go into an election and splitting the country asunder by allowing a racially-selected rugby team into the country certainly helped in that regard. Passing the act allowed Muldoon to play the loyalty card. Burning the flag meant you were a traitor and there should be a law to punish you, the legislation's proponents argued in their simplistic way.
It's surprising the law has remained on the books, particularly with the passing of the Bill of Rights Act subsequently. Burning the flag should never be welcomed as a national pastime but, if somebody feels strongly enough about a step the Government has undertaken, then dishonouring the New Zealand flag, as it's quaintly put, should be regarded as simply one form of freedom of expression. Those who undertake such a measure should realise that the flag is something sacred to many New Zealanders and they will offend, but it remains a right to be taken, providing, of course, it's done safely.See the full content of this document
Extract
Right Decision, Wrong Reason
So the decision by High Court Judge Justice France to overturn the conviction of Paul Hopkinson, a Porirua school t...
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