Media Release: Rights Aotearoa's CEO Files Complaint with New Zealand Media Council Over Stuff Opinion Column

13 October 2025

Rights Aotearoa's CEO Paul Thistoll has today lodged a formal complaint with the New Zealand Media Council regarding an opinion column published by Stuff titled "Chlöe Swarbrick: How Should We Define Her Contribution to Politics" (12 October 2025).

The complaint alleges that the column breaches Media Council Principle 4 (Comment and Fact) by presenting factually inaccurate claims about the legal definition of genocide under international law as the foundation for its opinion.

The Problem

The column asserts that genocide "entails... industrial scale" killing and uses this false legal premise to dismiss characterisations of the situation in Gaza as genocide. However, the Genocide Convention—which New Zealand is a state party to—contains no requirement that genocide involve industrialised killing. Genocide has been established under this definition in Rwanda, Cambodia, and Srebrenica, without requiring industrial-scale apparatus.

The columnist misrepresents settled international law to build an argument. Under the Media Council's Principles, "material facts on which an opinion is based should be accurate." This column fails that test.

Why This Matters

Genocide denial is a serious form of harm. It delegitimises victim experiences, obscures documented atrocity, and contributes to climates in which violence against vulnerable communities becomes normalised.

New Zealand has a responsibility under the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish genocide denial. Our media institutions have a corresponding responsibility to uphold accuracy and fairness when reporting on matters of international law and human rights.

When columnists present false legal definitions as fact—particularly on matters as grave as genocide—they undermine public understanding and erode trust in journalism itself.

The Complaint

Rights Aotearoa's complaint to the Media Council identifies three specific factual errors:

1. The claim that genocide requires "industrial scale" killing (it does not)
2. The framing of intent as a barrier to genocide law (intent is a required element, but it is contested—not settled—regarding Gaza)
3. The assertion that genocide law requires "comparison" to historical precedents (it does not)

We have sought correction from Stuff editorial and now pursue this matter through the independent Media Council process.

Our Position

Rights Aotearoa is committed to defending universal human rights and to upholding the integrity of international humanitarian law. This includes ensuring that genocide—one of the gravest crimes under international law—is neither weaponised as a rhetorical tool nor dismissed through legal falsehoods.

We support robust debate on Gaza, on Israel's actions, on Palestinian advocacy, and on the competing claims and counterclaims. That debate is healthier and more productive when it is grounded in accurate law.

We do not seek to suppress opinion. We seek to ensure that opinion rests on facts.

About Rights Aotearoa

Rights Aotearoa is New Zealand's leading non-governmental organisation devoted to promoting and defending universal human rights, with a focus on transgender, non-binary, and intersex rights.

Note: The Media Council complaint is now in the formal adjudication process. We will comment further once a ruling is issued.