Accusing a now-former Auckland City councillor of being unfit to hold public office and subject to foreign influence has cost a man who admits his views are “extreme” $225,000 (US$130,000) in damages.
The case has highlighted the level of tension between pro- and anti-Beijing members of the Chinese diaspora in New Zealand.
The High Court awarded the sum as general and aggravated damages against Morgan Xiao for WeChat (a Chinese social media platform) posts he made about Councillor Paul Young between 2021 and 2023. Xiao sometimes posts under the name “Demon King.”
Justice Tracey Walker described his posts about the former councillor as “a campaign of vilification bearing no hallmarks of a responsible communication,” rejecting Xiao’s defences of truth or communicating responsibly in the public interest….
Case Against Self-Confessed ‘Extreme’ CCP Supporter Highlights Split in NZ’s Chinese Diaspora
