5 Mar 2009

Peace activist granted appeal over flag burning

3:29 pm on 5 March 2009

A Wellington peace activist has been granted another appeal over flag burning at an Anzac Day service.

Valerie Morse was fined $500 for offensive behaviour in 2007 after she set fire to the New Zealand flag at the dawn service to protest against the country's involvement in overseas conflicts.

After Ms Morse lost her appeal to the High Court over the matter last year, she took her fight to the Court of Appeal, where a new hearing has been granted.

The Court of Appeal will investigate whether the High Court judge's conclusions are consistent with sections 5 and 14 of the Bill of Rights which deal with freedom of expression.