The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has published a resource that provides an overview of the legal framework on hate speech.

Kōrero Whakamauāhara: Hate Speech includes definitions of hate speech and considers the different legal approaches to hate speech in New Zealand and internationally. It is intended as a resource to help New Zealanders have an informed, inclusive and respectful discussion about the complex and contentious issue of hate speech.

The development of the resource started prior to the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 2019 which killed 51 people, and continued as New Zealand dealt with the aftermath of those attacks.

Speaking on the launch of the publication Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt said:

“The appropriate collective response to the Christchurch massacres will include local, national and international initiatives encompassing a variety of policies, programmes and practices.”

“The response to 15 March is and continues to be complex and multifaceted. This resource addresses only one corner of this large canvas.”