Freedom of Expression/History/Country sources/New Zealand
What is the oldest written source in this country that mentions this right?
New Zealand
New Zealand does not have a written constitution, as stated by the Governor-General of New Zealand: “New Zealand's constitution is not found in one document. Instead, it has a number of sources, including crucial pieces of legislation, several legal documents, common law derived from court decisions as well as established constitutional practices known as conventions.” The Imperial Laws Application Act of 1988 incorporated British constitutional legislation created prior to colonization of New Zealand into New Zealand law. As such, the oldest mention of freedom of expression with this application appears in the British 1688 Bill of Rights referring to freedom of speech (Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand). It specifically stated as freedom of expression in Article 14 of New Zealand’s 1990 Bill of Rights, a distinguished and elevated constitutional document in the country (New Zealand Parliament, 30 June 2017). The 1987 Maori Language Act additionally details freedom of expression specifically in terms of Maori national identity and language.
References:
Maori Language Act, 1987, Parliamentary Council Office (consulted 2016), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zznz0168&i=1
New Zealand Bill of Rights, 1688. Parliamentary Council Office (consulted 2013), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zznz0255&i=1
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, 1990. Parliamentary Council Office (consulted 2016), World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zznz0133&i=1
New Zealand Parliament. “New Zealand’s First Constitution Act Passed 165 Years Ago,” 30 June 2017: https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/new-zealand-s-first-constitution-act-passed-165-years-ago/
Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand. “New Zealand’s Constitution,” Accessed 7 June 2024: https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/roles-and-functions-governor-general/constitutional-role/constitution/constitution