Public broadcaster helps with legal rights

The majority of New Zealanders don’t really understand their legal rights and for some even getting a speeding ticket can be a traumatic experience.

To help people Triangle Television is producing a new public service legal series, “Know Your Rights”, based on the book of the same name by well-known Auckland barrister Catriona MacLennan.

MacLennan has practised law in the southern areas of Auckland for the past 12 years and was the first lawyer to work at Nga Ture Kaitiaki Ki Waikato Community Law Centre, where she provided legal advice to people who couldn’t afford lawyers.

MacLennan continues to work in fields in which few lawyers practise and her clients include some of the most disadvantaged people in New Zealand, including beneficiaries and people for whom English is a second language.

She says she hopes the programme will give the “average” person basic information, so they can avoid basic issues with the legal system.

“If people have knowledge and know where they can get information and help, they can deal with some common legal problems themselves,” MacLennan says. “That’s much better than signing up to an unfair loan agreement and then paying a lawyer to try and sort it out for you. By then it is often too late.”

Triangle Television’s chief executive Jim Blackman says Triangle TV has supported the core principles of Public Service broadcasting since it began broadcasting 14 years ago.

“We believe this new series will complement all the other programming we do as a public broadcaster and that it will greatly assist  those for whom information and education continues to be a major issue.”

Production of the 13-part series is being supported by a development grant from the Law Foundation, while Triangle Television will cover all production and airtime costs.

“Know Your Rights” – starts Thursday April 26 at 8:30pm, and is rebroadcast the following Friday at 5.30pm on Triangle Television Channel UHF 41 Auckland

“Know Your Rights” is part of Triangle Television’s ongoing commitment to public broadcasting in New Zealand