News Media Ownership v Findlay NZLR 1089 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding the defence of fair comment / honest opinion to a claim involving defamation.
Background News Media's newspaper Truth ran a campaign to bring back caning. In the process, they made allegations against opposition MP Findlay that his views to the contrary were based on the fact that as he was a lawyer, he was more interested in the extra legal fees an anti-caning policy would bring him, rather than any perceived interest in victims of domestic violence.
Findlay, later sued for defamation, and was later awarded $15,000. NMO appealed.
Held The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.
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