3 Mar 2023
CATO v MANAIA MEDIA LIMITED [2023] NZHC 385
- Citation
- [2023] NZHC 385
- Court
- High Court
Although the Article addressed matters of public interest (conduct of athletes, ESNZ complaints process), the defendants failed the responsible communication limb: the defamatory allegations were serious, not necessary to the public interest material, defendants did not fairly and squarely seek the plaintiff's response or allow adequate time, there was no sufficient urgency, and the publication was misleading in context; accordingly the Durie public interest defence fails and judgment entered for the plaintiff.