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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Defamation Act 1992

Remedies

28: Punitive damages

You could also call this:

"Getting extra compensation when someone disrespects your rights on purpose"

Illustration for Defamation Act 1992

You can get punitive damages in a defamation case if someone disrespects your rights on purpose. This happens when the person being sued acts in a way that clearly shows they do not care about your rights. Punitive damages can be awarded to you in this situation.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM281243.

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27: Court may make recommendations as to content, etc, of correction, or

"Court can decide how someone says sorry for saying something bad about you"

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29: Matters to be taken into account in mitigation of damages, or

"Things that reduce the amount of money someone gets for being defamed"

Part 3Remedies

28Punitive damages

  1. In any proceedings for defamation, punitive damages may be awarded against a defendant only where that defendant has acted in flagrant disregard of the rights of the plaintiff.