The ‘Lore’ Labyrinth
In this first post, let’s dive right in and have the first dose of some pseudolaw fundamentals that have surged with new believers in New Zealand since Covid’s onset : 2020.
'Sovereign citizen' is a common external label for individuals who believe they are not subject to government laws and regulations, and that they can 'opt out' of doing so. They often engage in various tactics to challenge authority and assert their own interpretation of the law. These tactics can include filing frivolous lawsuits, refusing to pay taxes, and creating their own identification documents. However, these actions typically lead to legal trouble for sovereign citizens, as they are still required to follow the laws of the land. In the end, their beliefs often result in confrontations with law enforcement and the judicial system.
Many New Zealand pseudolaw believers follow different presentations of these concepts, some preferring the American templates, others the UK, a blend of the two, or basic concepts recrafted in a New Zealand wrapper. Their behaviour can range from peaceful dissent to belligerence, and occasionally physical confrontations. While this milieu is classified as terrorist in the USA, the history, culture, and firearm context vary from New Zealand’s. Since this 2023 presentation, there has also been an increase in these groups / individuals misappropriating indigenous cultures, particularly Maori, to justify or present their notions as a righteous cause or to create a braid between ‘natural’ frames of the world, their agendas and grievances. This concerning tactic has been seen in Australia and Canada as well. Let’s take a closer look at some of these so-called processes that hold no weight in the New Zealand (or global) legal system.
Click Here for slide presentation
'Not under your jurisdiction': How the phenomenon known as 'pseudolaw' is clogging up courts
DIA : Misinformation about Birth Certificates,
Hat-tip to https://x.com/DNetolitzky Dr Donald J Netolitzky KC for the peer review of content.
The surge in these beliefs in New Zealand is part of my current doctoral research.
4 June 2024. DoC