What every New Zealander should know about their civil rights.

One of the cornerstones of a civilized democracy is the protection of an indiividual’s civil rights, those freedoms enshrined in law that shield citizens from unwarranted government action, discrimination or repression. New Zealand law, as well as the Bill of Rights, includes a wealth of protection for the individual throughout all areas of people’s lives. But this protection can be meaningless unless known about, and this is one of the fundamental purposes of the New Zealand Civil Rights Handbook.

This book is the only accessible but authoritative guide to civil rights in New Zealand, and as such is an indespensible publication for any citizen who needs information in this wideranging area. Its scope is considerable, and it contains information on:

• Your rights with the police and the courts
• Victims’ rights
• Rights of prisoners
• Rights of health consumers, including making complaints
• Rights of children
• Discrimination
• The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act
• Freedom of Expression, including defamation and censorship
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of association
• Right to life
• Privacy
• Access to official information
• Dealing with the Office of the Ombudsmen
• Intelligence agencies
• Right to culture and self-determination
• Rights as an employee
• Rights of immigrants and refugees

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim McBride is one of New Zealand’s foremost human rights lawyers. As an advocate, barrister, commentator and academic he has had a central role in human rights lawyering in this country. He wrote the first edition of the New Zealand Handbook of Civil Liberties in 1973, and has been responsible for a number of editions since, all of which have had to be heavily updated as the legislation in this area has dramatically expanded. He lives with his family in Devonport, Auckland.