Terms and Conditions: User submitted content and comments

Table of Contents

We ("NZ Truth") invite our readers ("you") to post comments and profile information in a number of areas of our websites.

These include, but are not limited to, the comments sections of stories published on the websites and user-submitted content. These terms and conditions apply if you submit any material to the website.

The views expressed in the comment areas are not our views or opinions, nor the views or opinions of any of our staff or our related entities. We accept no liability in respect of any material posted in the comment areas, nor are we responsible for the content and accuracy of that material.

If you place reliance on material posted on these websites you do so at your own risk, and you indemnify us (and our related entities) from any liabilities, claims, costs, loss (including consequential loss) or damage suffered or caused by reason of your reliance on any material posted in the comments areas.

Comment policy

NZ Truth welcomes comments from readers on our websites.

We invite you to discuss issues and share your views. We encourage robust debate and criticism, provided it is civil. Our comment section is a moderated online discussion, not a public forum.

We reserve the right to reject comments, images or links that:

  • are offensive or obscene;
  • contain objectionable or profane language - including use of symbols (we maintain a list of banned obscenities and comments featuring those words will be automatically rejected);
  • include personal attacks of any kind (including name-calling; insults; mocking the subjects of stories or other readers; or abusing Stuff journalists or contributors);
  • are discriminatory or express prejudice on the basis of race, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, sexuality, religion, or disability;
  • constitute harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment;
  • are body-shaming;
  • contain spam or include links to other sites;
  • are clearly off topic, including queries or comments about moderation;
  • are deliberate lies, misinformation or attempts to mislead. While we cannot review all comments for accuracy, we reserve the right to reject comments we consider, on the balance of probabilities, to be deliberate falsehoods or unsubstantiated rumours;
  • impersonate an individual or organisation, are fraudulent, defamatory of any person, threatening or invasive of another's privacy or otherwise illegal;
  • are trolling or threatening;
  • advocate or endorse violence, vigilantism or law breaking;
  • infringe on copyrights or trademarks;
  • are self-promoting;
  • violate the law or breach court-ordered suppressions or have the potential to breach future suppressions; or constitute a contempt of court or that contain details of cases and individuals before the courts;
  • violate our terms and conditions for user generated content;
  • promote, advertise or solicit the sale of any goods or services;
  • nitpick other commenters' spelling or grammar;
  • deny anthropogenic climate change;
  • deny the Holocaust;
  • are in a language other than English or te reo Māori, except for foreign words in popular usage eg touche, bona fide, tour de force etc;
  • add nothing to the debate;
  • just generally aren't very nice.

Usernames are also bound by these Terms and Conditions and offensive usernames will be blocked. Using your real name is preferred best practice.

We reserve the right to cut, crop, edit or refuse to publish your content. We may remove your content from use at any time. Our comment technology uses AI to assess posts for language that is commonly considered toxic, abusive or in breach of community guidelines. Some comments may be automatically moderated as a result.

Comments are limited to 900 characters in length.

Our rights

We retain the right and discretion (but not the obligation) to edit, delete, reject or remove any comment which you post or seek to post.

You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide licence to republish any material you submit to us, without limitation, in any format.

It is our policy not to remove stories from the website and user submissions.

We retain the right and discretion to terminate your account if we believe you are abusing the services in any way, or have breached these terms and conditions. Commenters who repeatedly or egregiously breach our terms and conditions or post offensive comments may find their username has been permanently blocked. Users who post illegal material or hate speech may have their details - including IP addresses - reported to authorities.

You consent to our collecting and storing your email and IP address for security purposes.

Your obligations

In addition to adhering to the comment policy detailed above, you will not post any material:

  • Which is not original work in which you own the copyright, or which in any way violates or infringes (or could reasonably be expected to violate or infringe) the copyright, identity, registered trademark or intellectual property rights of another person;
  • Which is (or could reasonably be expected to be) obscene, offensive, pornographic, vulgar, profane, indecent or otherwise illegal;
  • Which is (or could reasonably be expected to be) defamatory of any person;
  • Which racially or religiously vilifies, incites violence or hatred, or is likely to offend, insult or humiliate others based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or any physical or mental disability; or
  • Which you know or suspect (or ought reasonably to have known or suspected) to be false, misleading or deceptive.

You will not use the comment or profile areas for the purpose of:

  • advertising, promoting or soliciting any goods or services, or otherwise engaging in trade or commerce; or
  • providing any financial advice, or advice of any kind in relation to any financial product.

Indemnities

You agree to fully indemnify and hold us (and our related entities) harmless against any liabilities, claims, costs, loss (including consequential loss) or damage incurred as a result of any material you post in the comments areas, or as a result of any breach by you of these terms and conditions.

Notwithstanding any indemnity provided by you under these terms and conditions, we and/or our related entities retain the right to assume the conduct of any defence to a claim brought against us, and of any proceeding or appeal issued by us, and you agree to provide all reasonable cooperation (including by making available relevant documents) that we may require from you in relation to any such claim, proceeding or appeal.

Governing law

These terms and conditions shall be construed and applied in accordance with the laws of New Zealand, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts to determine any matter or dispute which arises under these terms and conditions in accordance with the laws of New Zealand.

FAQs

Do I have to use my real name?

Commenting under your real name is not required, but is encouraged. We hope readers who comment under their real names, rather than a pseudonym, are more likely to engage in intelligent, respectful discussions and debate.

Do you edit comments?

No. Comments are reviewed against our Terms and Conditions and either approved or rejected.

Why are my comments never approved?

Provided your comment meets our terms and conditions, it will be approved for publishing to the Stuff website. Readers who repeatedly or egregiously breach our terms and conditions or post offensive comments may find their username has been permanently blocked.