PLANET KEY Assist with legal challenge – support freedom of expression in New Zealand!

By Jeremy Jones

video

PledgeMe.Project

Community,

NZ $2,620 pledged


65 people pledged


Closed


NZ $2,300 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 16/09/2014 at 9:29 PM.

Make a Pledge

About

PLANET KEY Assist With Legal Challenge – Support Freedom Of Expression In New Zealand!

Project 2014-08-29 19:57:14 +1200

Darren Watson and Jeremy Jones created the satirical song and video, respectively, for the song Planet Key. The song and video represent their creators' personal views about the cult of personality politics in New Zealand, and feelings about the current Prime Minister and governing political party. Both the song and video were entirely self-funded. Darren and Jeremy agreed to share any earnings from the song's sale on iTunes 50/50 to recoup something towards their time and costs. The song and video were released on 4 August 2014.

On 14 August 2014 the New Zealand Electoral Commission advised it considered the song and video were an "electoral programme" under the Broadcasting Act, and that playing the song on the radio or the video on TV would be unlawful except as part of a related news story. The Electoral Commission also stated that it considered the works were "electoral advertisements" requiring a "promoter statement" to be added, and that failure to do so could lead to prosecution by the NZ Police and a fine of up to $10,000.

Darren and Jeremy object to the suggestion that the video is an “election advertisement” and that they must attach a “promoter statement” to it in order to comply with the Electoral Act.  They feel aggrieved about the Commission's advice to broadcasters that their song and video should not be played at all to comply with the law as the Commission sees it. They consider their work to be satire in its purest form, and that the Electoral Commission's position threatens the rights of all New Zealanders to freely express their political views.  The rights to freedom of expression and to criticise the government are fundamental rights in a democratic society.

Through their lawyer, Darren and Jeremy asked the Electoral Commission to reconsider its stance, but the Commission has confirmed its original position. As a result Darren Watson and Jeremy Jones are challenging the Electoral Commission's position through the courts. The Hearing has been set for 11 September 2014 in the High Court at Wellington.

Darren and Jeremy's legal team are acting for them pro bono, in recognition of the important principles at stake in this case, so donations will not be used for lawyers'  fees.   However, litigation is an expensive business and there are other costs including filing costs, travel, accommodation and other out of pocket expenses which Darren and Jeremy are unable to finance on their own. Please help support this important cause and contribute to the fund!

Comments

Updates 1

Over halfway there!

04/09/2014 at 4:51 PM

A big thankyou to all who have contributed to this campaign. I want to extend a huge thankyou to our legal team who are representing us pro bono. We couldn't have hoped for a judicial review without their or all of your support. To the power of the people!

    Pledgers 65

    Wendy
    16/09/2014 at 9:29pm
    Dave W Currie
    16/09/2014 at 7:34pm
    Gavin Burgess
    16/09/2014 at 7:26pm
    Rohan Satyanand
    15/09/2014 at 9:55pm
    Alex Deidier
    15/09/2014 at 12:22am
    Leonie Reynolds
    13/09/2014 at 3:12pm
    Anonymous pledger
    13/09/2014 at 9:58am
    Simon Story
    12/09/2014 at 6:06am
    Sterile Mrsterile
    11/09/2014 at 7:59pm
    Matt Aickin
    11/09/2014 at 6:59pm
    Olie Bassweight
    11/09/2014 at 6:32pm
    Jim Rowe
    11/09/2014 at 6:22pm
    Anonymous pledger
    11/09/2014 at 1:07pm
    John
    10/09/2014 at 5:11pm
    Joe Lindsay
    09/09/2014 at 12:37pm
    Louis Bernstone
    09/09/2014 at 10:41am
    Janine M Eastwood
    09/09/2014 at 9:39am
    Duncan Forsyth
    08/09/2014 at 10:43pm
    Alex Reedijk
    08/09/2014 at 7:45pm
    Camilla Dadson
    08/09/2014 at 6:53pm
    Anonymous pledger
    08/09/2014 at 3:53pm
    Georgia Choveaux
    08/09/2014 at 3:23pm
    Catherine Townsend
    08/09/2014 at 11:32am
    Kat Jenkins
    07/09/2014 at 6:48pm
    Bruce Davis-Goff
    07/09/2014 at 5:33pm
    Anonymous pledger
    06/09/2014 at 6:08pm
    Dakta Green
    04/09/2014 at 10:48pm
    Neil White
    04/09/2014 at 7:36pm
    Anonymous pledger
    03/09/2014 at 10:30pm
    Olex Sydor
    03/09/2014 at 8:40pm

    Followers 18

    Followers of PLANET KEY Assist with legal challenge – support freedom of expression in New Zealand!

    PLANET KEY Assist With Legal Challenge – Support Freedom Of Expression In New Zealand!

    Project 2014-08-29 19:57:14 +1200

    Darren Watson and Jeremy Jones created the satirical song and video, respectively, for the song Planet Key. The song and video represent their creators' personal views about the cult of personality politics in New Zealand, and feelings about the current Prime Minister and governing political party. Both the song and video were entirely self-funded. Darren and Jeremy agreed to share any earnings from the song's sale on iTunes 50/50 to recoup something towards their time and costs. The song and video were released on 4 August 2014.

    On 14 August 2014 the New Zealand Electoral Commission advised it considered the song and video were an "electoral programme" under the Broadcasting Act, and that playing the song on the radio or the video on TV would be unlawful except as part of a related news story. The Electoral Commission also stated that it considered the works were "electoral advertisements" requiring a "promoter statement" to be added, and that failure to do so could lead to prosecution by the NZ Police and a fine of up to $10,000.

    Darren and Jeremy object to the suggestion that the video is an “election advertisement” and that they must attach a “promoter statement” to it in order to comply with the Electoral Act.  They feel aggrieved about the Commission's advice to broadcasters that their song and video should not be played at all to comply with the law as the Commission sees it. They consider their work to be satire in its purest form, and that the Electoral Commission's position threatens the rights of all New Zealanders to freely express their political views.  The rights to freedom of expression and to criticise the government are fundamental rights in a democratic society.

    Through their lawyer, Darren and Jeremy asked the Electoral Commission to reconsider its stance, but the Commission has confirmed its original position. As a result Darren Watson and Jeremy Jones are challenging the Electoral Commission's position through the courts. The Hearing has been set for 11 September 2014 in the High Court at Wellington.

    Darren and Jeremy's legal team are acting for them pro bono, in recognition of the important principles at stake in this case, so donations will not be used for lawyers'  fees.   However, litigation is an expensive business and there are other costs including filing costs, travel, accommodation and other out of pocket expenses which Darren and Jeremy are unable to finance on their own. Please help support this important cause and contribute to the fund!

    Comments

    Over halfway there!

    04/09/2014 at 4:51 PM

    A big thankyou to all who have contributed to this campaign. I want to extend a huge thankyou to our legal team who are representing us pro bono. We couldn't have hoped for a judicial review without their or all of your support. To the power of the people!

      Wendy
      16/09/2014 at 9:29pm
      Dave W Currie
      16/09/2014 at 7:34pm
      Gavin Burgess
      16/09/2014 at 7:26pm
      Rohan Satyanand
      15/09/2014 at 9:55pm
      Alex Deidier
      15/09/2014 at 12:22am
      Leonie Reynolds
      13/09/2014 at 3:12pm
      Anonymous pledger
      13/09/2014 at 9:58am
      Simon Story
      12/09/2014 at 6:06am
      Sterile Mrsterile
      11/09/2014 at 7:59pm
      Matt Aickin
      11/09/2014 at 6:59pm
      Olie Bassweight
      11/09/2014 at 6:32pm
      Jim Rowe
      11/09/2014 at 6:22pm
      Anonymous pledger
      11/09/2014 at 1:07pm
      John
      10/09/2014 at 5:11pm
      Joe Lindsay
      09/09/2014 at 12:37pm
      Louis Bernstone
      09/09/2014 at 10:41am
      Janine M Eastwood
      09/09/2014 at 9:39am
      Duncan Forsyth
      08/09/2014 at 10:43pm
      Alex Reedijk
      08/09/2014 at 7:45pm
      Camilla Dadson
      08/09/2014 at 6:53pm
      Anonymous pledger
      08/09/2014 at 3:53pm
      Georgia Choveaux
      08/09/2014 at 3:23pm
      Catherine Townsend
      08/09/2014 at 11:32am
      Kat Jenkins
      07/09/2014 at 6:48pm
      Bruce Davis-Goff
      07/09/2014 at 5:33pm
      Anonymous pledger
      06/09/2014 at 6:08pm
      Dakta Green
      04/09/2014 at 10:48pm
      Neil White
      04/09/2014 at 7:36pm
      Anonymous pledger
      03/09/2014 at 10:30pm
      Olex Sydor
      03/09/2014 at 8:40pm

      Followers of PLANET KEY Assist with legal challenge – support freedom of expression in New Zealand!

      This campaign was successful and got its funding on 16/09/2014 at 9:29 PM.