a trial
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Rolling coverage of the Kiwimeter defamation trial at BATS Theatre

19 - 23 April,  7.30pm ​
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Kiwimeter in court - brings defamation claim to trial 

Controversial TVNZ survey on trial, the creators suing for defamation, with the case being heard in BATS Theatre. 

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Maverick judge Jo Randerson will be presiding of the defamation case being brought by TVNZ. Photo: Mouce Young


​A group of Wellington theatre makers are staging A Trial at BATS Theatre in order to investigate the issues that TVNZ’s controversial Kiwimeter survey has raised and to put the New Zealand justice system itself under the cauterising lights of the theatre for judgement.

The satirical court case will follow real judicial procedures and conventions (with a small degree of creative licence). Each night of the season will be a different stand-alone episode in a serial that will be documented online as it unfolds over the week.

In the civil case being brought, TVNZ has sued a prominent commentator [name suppressed] for defamatory statements leading to loss of profit. The public are invited to attend on any night; each episode will see new witnesses interrogated and new attempts to twist the law in favour of one client or another. As part the experience, audience members can put themselves forward to serve on the jury (provided they are available for all five episodes) and give their verdict on the final night. 

Tickets are available from www.bats.co.nz, along with all the details on how to sign up for jury service. Follow proceedings at atrialshow.weebly.comand @TrialJournoNZ on twitter.

A TRIAL 
IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND, WELLINGTON REGISTRY 
CIV–2016-289-0001 
UNDER THE DEFAMATION ACT 1992 
BETWEEN TVNZ (Plaintiff) AND UNNAMED (Defendant) 
HEARING: 19 APRIL – 23 APRIL  
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS 
Tuesday 19 April        Hey Jury, Don't Make it Bad  
Wednesday 20 April    It's Plaintiff to See  
Thursday 21 April       Can I Get a Witness?  
Friday 22 April           Stop Sitting on Defence  
Saturday 23 April       Give it to Me (the Verdict)
APPEARANCES 
Justice Jody Ranzerson:  Jo Randerson  
Counsel for the Plaintiff, Mr Backensdael:  Joel Baxendale 
Counsel for the Defendant, Miss Rizmackon:  Karin McCracken 
Court Taker, Courtney T. Aker:  Maria Williams 
Member of the press, Jacqui Strongarm:  Anya Tate-Manning
WITNESSES 
Ria Simmons 
Tadhg Daly 
David Farrar 
Tania Sawicki-Mead 
Unnamed (defendant) 
OPERATOR:  Jonathan Hobman 
DESIGNED BY:  Nick Zwart and Meg Rollandi 
PRODUCED BY Joel Baxendale  
DRAMATURGY:  Karin McCracken  

Related news

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​Name of defendant leaked on social media

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Day 1 / Hey Jury, don't make it bad


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Application to keep out media and public denied 

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Trial to be covered on new website

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