Electoral Commission v Watson - [2017] 2 NZLR 63

Elections and polls — Electoral Commission — Song written and recorded, and accompanying video made by two members of public to express their political views in lead up to general election — Electoral Commission advised illegal to broadcast because were election advertisements and election programmes — Whether song and video were election advertisements and election programmes — Effect of song and video upon voters — Whether right to free expression limited more than necessary — Whether expression of personal political view — Whether editorial content exercised — Whether song and video were comments — “Election advertisement” — “Election programme” — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Statutes — Interpretation — Whether song and video were election advertisements — Whether song and video were election programmes — Statutes to be read as a whole — Provisions affecting free speech to be read in “rights sensitive” way — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.