NBR column 'hyperbole' not defamation, court told

Tue, 10 Dec 2019

The National Business Review has argued a controversial column about former politician Steven Joyce was “hyperbole” and “ungenerous” but not defamatory. The business publication's publisher - Fourth Estate Holdings 2012 - and its owner Todd Scott are defending a defamation action brought by the former finance minister in the High Court at Auckland today. They are being sued over a 2018 column written by political commentator and lobbyist Matthew Hooton titled “Joyce sacking first test of Bridges’ leadership.” Joyce wants a declaration...

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