Reference no: EM132274033
Wiremu set up a blog, “Aotearoa Liberation Front”, which promoted Maori culture particularly the playing of Maori traditional musical instruments such as the koanau, or flute. Sometimes he posted material calling for the setting up of an independent Maori state within the confines of the Urewera National Park. His posts also recommended the non-payment of taxes and the refusal to cooperate with the authorities in any form. He refused to pay his dog licence as matter of principle. Many people followed his example and refused to pay their dog licences in protest at what they saw as excessive taxation by the government.
In the Prime Minister’s opinion Wiremu was a dangerous radical. After a particularly inflammatory post calling for the forcible occupation of the Prime Minister’s official residence, Vogel House, as an “act of resource reallocation” the Prime Minister lost her patience. At her weekly press conference the Prime Minister announced that the government was to introduce a law requiring internet service providers to install firewalls that would restrict access to certain designated websites. She singled out Wiremu’s blog as a particular target, “Decent people should not have to put up with nonsense encouraging home invasion. I have a young child and I don’t want her put in danger by some wild eyed radical invading my house. We are all New Zealanders and talk of setting up a Maori mini state is socially divisive.”
Wiremu objects to the proposed law which would restrict access to certain websites, including his own. “It’s a breach of my human rights. It’s a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. Article 2 guarantees the preservation of Maori taonga, which includes Maori music. They can’t do this.”
Answer the following questions in no more than 600 words in total:
Can “they” create a law that would require internet service providers to install firewalls restricting access to certain designated websites and which may be in breach of the Treaty of Waitangi as Wiremu argues? Why?
Explain what legal steps Wiremu can take to oppose this proposed law or to prevent it being enforced.