Did someone say "freedom of speech"?

Code: A system of symbols, letters, or words given certain arbitrary meanings. (courtesy of Dictionary.com)

Code of Conduct: A system of rules given certain arbitrary meanings by the Wanganui City Council.

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Allow us to pause a moment and offer a small furry animal in sacrifice in thanks for the existence of the NZ Bill of Rights. Indeed, let us chant as we do the passage from the Human Right's Commission helpful little explanatory booklet on the Bill, waved about by His Worship at the Code of Conduct hearings and reprinted, in part, in the Council's findings, to wit:

• "There are very few activities that will not be protected by the freedom of expression because most human activity has an expressive element (including political, artisitic and commercial expression).
• Speech or an expression that is considered important to the ability of individuals to participate in core democratic processes, for example in elections, and political and social speech, is likely to enjoy a very high degree of protection.
• A fundamental aspect of the right of freedom of expression is that it extends to protecting all information and opinion, however unpopular, offensive or distasteful.”

So here we are, following the shining example of the Commission, the Council and indeed His Worshipfulness himself, and participating in a core democratic process - namely watching the activity of one M Laws esq - and basking in the high degree of protection promised us by these exalted and worthy persons.

So stay tuned, gentle reader, for a point-by-point critique of the Council's Code of Conduct findings. Starting with the question "Who is this mysterious McQuarrie Bank of whom they speak, and could it have anything to do with that well-known Australian financial institution Macquarie Bank?"

Note: No small furry animals were harmed in the making of this post.

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