Chapman Tripp's  Media Law in New Zealand – insights for 2019  publication looks at the changing legal landscape that encompasses all issues affecting social media, entertainment, advertising, broadcasting, digital and analogue media.

The changing scope of this sector means that laws and regulations which have a bearing on the media such as defamation, privacy and competition law are constantly being tested.

Expected trends that will unfold in 2019 are:

  • the testing of the new public interest defence for defamation and increased difficulty in dismissing minor defamation claims
  • a more restrained approach to defamation damages awards, with authoritative guidance expected later this year in the Supreme Court's decision in Craig v Williams
  • a strengthening of the Privacy Bill in response to international and technology developments, and
  • continuing churn in the media industry, within the regulatory constraints imposed by a belief that media plurality must be protected.

Read our Media Law in New Zealand – insights for 2019 publication here.

The information in this article is for informative purposes only and should not be relied on as legal advice. Please contact Chapman Tripp for advice tailored to your situation.