Dr Dean Knight
@drdeanknight.bsky.social
⟦ law + govt ⟧ ⟦ coffee + kai ⟧ ⟦ critic + conscience ⟧ ⟦ rugby + rugby ⟧ ⟦ rainbows + unicorns ⟧ — usual disclaimers apply
Urgh. Meagher, for the minister, is framing his arguments in support of the bar on the basis of the novel climate change tort, and ignoring that the core claim in the well-established tort of nuisance (which he admitted faced some serious causation difficulties).
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · 7d agoHere’s what I said in my oral submission, in rebuttal to the developing common law suggestion.
Oops. Missed that this is now being debated in the Committee of the Whole now!
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · 2d agoSecond reading debate just kicking off... 🍿
Sigh. Here are the 6 speeches from govt MPs (other than Meagher's for minister responsible) on 2nd reading of Climate Change Tort Liab bill, outlawing tort claims and nixing Smith's current claim in public negligence – a bill widely condemned as constitutionally improper. youtu.be/ZMy5ixJ3IZM?...
Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill (2R Govt MPs other than minister)
YouTube video by Dr Dean Knight
youtu.be
Sigh. Here are the 6 speeches from govt MPs (other than Meagher's for minister responsible) on 2nd reading of Climate Change Tort Liab bill, outlawing tort claims and nixing Smith's current claim in public negligence – a bill widely condemned as constitutionally improper. youtu.be/ZMy5ixJ3IZM?...
Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill (2R Govt MPs other than minister)
YouTube video by Dr Dean Knight
youtu.be
And the point is probably even stronger than that. If the coalition collapses, Luxon loses confidence Any significant decisions, including requesting an early election, would be subject to caretaker convention and could not be made unilaterally by him as PM. Majority support in the House is needed.
#rantsandreckons 🤓 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
New Zealand legislation recognising English an official language ridiculed as ‘pathetic’
Passing of bill technically gives English same status as Māori and sign language but, with it already spoken by 95% of country, critics call it ‘a pointless exercise’
theguardian.com
Bumping this earlier thread, as it looks like the Climate Change Tort Liability Bill will have its second reading later this afternoon or tonight. 🤓
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · last wk.Well, that’s plain wrong and a misreading of Smith v Fonterra. 🤦🏼♂️ selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/SelectComm...
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Sam Sachdeva@samsachdeva.bsky.social · 3d agoNot sure how much attention this will get, but it’s quite a big deal - Labour has pulled its support for the Govt’s controversial census ‘modernisation’ plans, meaning it no longer has the 75% majority it needs in Parliament: newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/03/g...
And let’s add to the list of expedited law-making and legislative shortcuts the many instances of very truncated select committee processes, such as the recent Climate Change Tort Liability Bill. #shoddylawmaking
RNZ News Feeds@rnzrss.bsky.social · 3d agoMore laws rushed through Parliament under urgency than any term since 2008
#NZpol Geoffrey Palmer: Be careful what you wish for – MAGA “is not a good formula to be copied in New Zealand.” – “It treats institutions built to check power, such as the courts, the press, the public service, as suspects rather than safeguards.” newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/01/g...
Geoffrey Palmer: Be careful what you wish for, New Zealand
Kiwis wanting to mimic the anti-establishment, anti-elite, anti-media aspects of Trump's America risk dangerous implications for our rule of law and constitutional safeguards
newsroom.co.nz
(2/2) Court addressed whether to exercise discretion to make declaration of inconsistency. Held, deference to Parliament inherent in fact Court’s power declaratory only; decision does not declare law invalid. Court exercising judicial function in making declaration. sen.nz/q00gdt
(1/2) High Court issues declaration that prohibition on public display of gang insignia is inconsistent with right to freedom of expression under s14 of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Limitation on right had not been justified under s5; rationally connected to objective of Act but disproportionate.
By my count, Monday's Cabinet meeting is the last one before the 3-month pre-election period of restraint re appointments etc kicks in (voluntary period of restraint and not a convention, of course (but pretty much a convention 😉))...
Mississauga councillors vote 11-0 to support a one-year pause on data centres. If approved on Sept. 16, this could be the first interim control bylaw in Canada. It’s likely to face appeals. My latest for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
Mississauga votes for data centre moratorium that could set Canadian precedent
A proposed one-year pause on data centre applications was supported 11-0; the bylaw is subject to final approval in September.
nationalobserver.com
Well, that’s plain wrong and a misreading of Smith v Fonterra. 🤦🏼♂️ selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/SelectComm...
Re-upping this proposed amendment for the English Language Bill — I reckon it would make a great Amendment Paper and would make the best of a bad situation/unnecessary legislation.
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · 3w agoQuite disappointed that my suggestion -- that our 3 official languages all be spelt out in the Constitution Act 1986 -- was passed over by officials and the committee in the English Language Bill select committee process. Sigh. www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/sub...
Committee of Whole stage of English Language Bill is being debated now. 🍿
Re-upping this proposed amendment for the English Language Bill — I reckon it would make a great Amendment Paper and would make the best of a bad situation/unnecessary legislation.
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · 3w agoQuite disappointed that my suggestion -- that our 3 official languages all be spelt out in the Constitution Act 1986 -- was passed over by officials and the committee in the English Language Bill select committee process. Sigh. www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/sub...
bump 🤓
Dr Dean Knight@drdeanknight.bsky.social · 3w agoQuite disappointed that my suggestion -- that our 3 official languages all be spelt out in the Constitution Act 1986 -- was passed over by officials and the committee in the English Language Bill select committee process. Sigh. www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/sub...
Wonderful day in the capital city for our LAWS522 student scholars at @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social to share and discuss their initial 5,000 word working papers — with feedback from their colleagues — on their way towards the eventual goal of a 12,000 word article.
#rantsandreckons 🤓 My oral submission to the Justice committee yesterday on the Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill. youtu.be/WFLE60FLJec
Justice committee: Climate change (tort liability) amendment Bill
YouTube video by Dr Dean Knight
youtu.be
Emitters' claims that court case would shut them down are 'hyperbolic'
Emitters' claims that court case would shut them down are 'hyperbolic'
Claims that a court case against major greenhouse gas emitters would put companies out of business are "frankly hyperbolic", a select committee has heard.
rnz.co.nz
Quite disappointed that my suggestion -- that our 3 official languages all be spelt out in the Constitution Act 1986 -- was passed over by officials and the committee in the English Language Bill select committee process. Sigh. www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/sub...
