A New Zealand Appeals Court created a new defence of responsible communication on a matter public interest to replace the former qualified privilege defense. A retired High Court judge and his lawyer wife, both prominent public figures in the Māori Council, brought the case in response to defamatory news reports about his wife’s law firm and alleged conflicts of interests with the Council.  Māori TV claimed the statements were protected by qualified privilege and were neutral reportage on matters of public interest. In light of new challenges brought on by the digital age, the Court found that the standard defense of qualified privilege, which was limited to parliamentarians and political issues, was outdated and insufficient to address the claims. Citing recently established standards in the U.K. and Canada, the Court created a new public interest defense available to anyone who publishes material in any medium in-so-far as it is in the public interest and meets a responsibility requirement.