Just days before the unveiling of New Zealand’s 2025 Budget, the High Court has issued an emergency injunction silencing RNZ from publishing details of a leaked education report. The legal gag was sought by Attorney-General Judith Collins.
Legal Action Triggered by a Media Inquiry
The sequence began on Wednesday afternoon when RNZ approached the office of Education Minister Erica Stanford for comment after obtaining a document titled “Report: Budget 25 Initiative Themes”. According to RNZ, the document outlined forthcoming government initiatives in education that were expected to feature in the Budget.
In response, a spokesperson from the minister’s office issued a stern warning, writing: “I’m putting you on notice that you have sighted improperly released budget sensitive information. It is not in the public interest to be released. Can you please confirm that information will not be published at this time?” Court filings later revealed this correspondence set off a rapid chain of events at the highest levels of government.
Minutes after RNZ’s inquiry, the minister’s office contacted Solicitor-General Una Jagose KC, the chief executive of Crown Law. By 4:00 p.m., Justice Dale La Hood had granted an interim injunction, blocking RNZ from publishing or disseminating any content from the report.
The Scope and Justification of the Gag Order
The court order, issued without notice to RNZ, prohibits the public broadcaster and its agents from revealing anything in the report. It makes clear, however, that the restriction applies only to the leaked document and not to reporting on the official Budget once it is formally released.
In court filings, the Attorney-General’s office argued the injunction was necessary because the document contained “commercially sensitive information that would prejudice the government’s ability to engage effectively in collective bargaining.” The government maintains that the leak constituted a serious breach of confidence and warned that publication would amplify the damage.
“The report is confidential and Budget sensitive… The defendants are aware that report was prepared for Budget purposes and are on notice of its confidential nature,” the filings read. “Publication or dissemination of the report or information in it will further breach confidence.”
The government also requested that RNZ return all copies of the document in its possession.
Part of a Broader Pattern
The blocked report marks the fourth education-related Budget leak seen by RNZ in the past five weeks, an unusual trend for any Budget season. According to RNZ, the documents originated through three separate channels, suggesting a broader breach of confidentiality within the public sector.
The volume and frequency of leaks, combined with the swiftness of the legal response, point to growing internal pressures within the machinery of government. Analysts are questioning whether the current information controls are sufficient—or sustainable—when facing persistent leaks and an assertive press.
Implications for Media Freedom
This episode has reignited debate over the limits of press freedom in New Zealand. Legal experts note that while the state has a right to protect genuinely confidential and commercially sensitive material, prior restraint against media outlets is an extraordinary measure.
RNZ has not publicly commented on whether it will contest the injunction. For now, it remains legally bound to withhold the contents of the report until further court hearings or until the official Budget is released.