Robert Stewart

Profile

Recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading media and defamation lawyers, Robert is a specialist in defamation disputes and advises many of New Zealand's most prominent digital, broadcast and print media outlets.


Robert is ranked Band 3 by Chambers and Partners, which notes "He has a great practice and does a lot of defamation and media law. Very well respected." Disputes often centre on issues of freedom of expression, suppression and privacy.


Robert has a proven record of excellence and success with over 30 years litigation and advocacy experience over a wide range of practice areas. Robert delivers solution-based outcomes for his clients that recognises both legal and commercial imperatives.


Robert has extensive experience in civil litigation and dispute resolution, company and commercial disputes and litigation, coronial and other inquiries, professional disciplinary and regulatory matters (including disciplinary charges and prosecutions), Bill of Rights issues (freedom of expression), harmful digital communication litigation, copyright, privacy, contempt, suppression, insolvency and liquidation, judicial review, as well as land and property, trust and estate litigation.


Robert advises many of New Zealand’s major digital, broadcast and print media entities – both public and commercial – and has led and appeared in a number of significant media law and defamation cases. He also regularly provides advice to local and international film production and publishing companies.


Prior to moving to the independent bar at Shortland Chambers, Robert was a litigation partner for 20 years at the highly respected Wellington firm Izard Weston. His international legal experience in the areas of commercial transactions and insolvency involved working in the London offices of global law firms Reed Smith LLP (as Warner Cranston) and DLA Piper (as Dibb Lupton Broomhead).


Robert is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association, the New Zealand Law Society and a faculty member of the NZLS’s Litigation Skills Programme. He has also contributed to legal education as a presenter to a number of NZLS CLE Media Law seminars, and for the Auckland District Law Society on contempt and recusal.


Profile

Recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading media and defamation lawyers, Robert is a specialist in defamation disputes and advises many of New Zealand's most prominent digital, broadcast and print media outlets.


Robert is ranked Band 3 by Chambers and Partners, which notes "He has a great practice and does a lot of defamation and media law. Very well respected." Disputes often centre on issues of freedom of expression, suppression and privacy.


Robert has a proven record of excellence and success with over 30 years litigation and advocacy experience over a wide range of practice areas. Robert delivers solution-based outcomes for his clients that recognises both legal and commercial imperatives.


Robert has extensive experience in civil litigation and dispute resolution, company and commercial disputes and litigation, coronial and other inquiries, professional disciplinary and regulatory matters (including disciplinary charges and prosecutions), Bill of Rights issues (freedom of expression), harmful digital communication litigation, copyright, privacy, contempt, suppression, insolvency and liquidation, judicial review, as well as land and property, trust and estate litigation.


Robert advises many of New Zealand’s major digital, broadcast and print media entities – both public and commercial – and has led and appeared in a number of significant media law and defamation cases. He also regularly provides advice to local and international film production and publishing companies.


Prior to moving to the independent bar at Shortland Chambers, Robert was a litigation partner for 20 years at the highly respected Wellington firm Izard Weston. His international legal experience in the areas of commercial transactions and insolvency involved working in the London offices of global law firms Reed Smith LLP (as Warner Cranston) and DLA Piper (as Dibb Lupton Broomhead).


Robert is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association, the New Zealand Law Society and a faculty member of the NZLS’s Litigation Skills Programme. He has also contributed to legal education as a presenter to a number of NZLS CLE Media Law seminars, and for the Auckland District Law Society on contempt and recusal.


Profile

Recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading media and defamation lawyers, Robert is a specialist in defamation disputes and advises many of New Zealand's most prominent digital, broadcast and print media outlets.


Robert is ranked Band 3 by Chambers and Partners, which notes "He has a great practice and does a lot of defamation and media law. Very well respected." Disputes often centre on issues of freedom of expression, suppression and privacy.


Robert has a proven record of excellence and success with over 30 years litigation and advocacy experience over a wide range of practice areas. Robert delivers solution-based outcomes for his clients that recognises both legal and commercial imperatives.


Robert has extensive experience in civil litigation and dispute resolution, company and commercial disputes and litigation, coronial and other inquiries, professional disciplinary and regulatory matters (including disciplinary charges and prosecutions), Bill of Rights issues (freedom of expression), harmful digital communication litigation, copyright, privacy, contempt, suppression, insolvency and liquidation, judicial review, as well as land and property, trust and estate litigation.


Robert advises many of New Zealand’s major digital, broadcast and print media entities – both public and commercial – and has led and appeared in a number of significant media law and defamation cases. He also regularly provides advice to local and international film production and publishing companies.


Prior to moving to the independent bar at Shortland Chambers, Robert was a litigation partner for 20 years at the highly respected Wellington firm Izard Weston. His international legal experience in the areas of commercial transactions and insolvency involved working in the London offices of global law firms Reed Smith LLP (as Warner Cranston) and DLA Piper (as Dibb Lupton Broomhead).


Robert is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association, the New Zealand Law Society and a faculty member of the NZLS’s Litigation Skills Programme. He has also contributed to legal education as a presenter to a number of NZLS CLE Media Law seminars, and for the Auckland District Law Society on contempt and recusal.


Additional information

Case History
  • Cao v Stuff Ltd [2024] NZHC 44 – Successfully defended media entity Stuff Ltd and its former journalist in defamation proceedings, brought by the promoters of the Waikato Cherry Tree Festival, on 6 of the 7 publications sued on (jury trial).
  • H v Stuff Ltd [2023] NZHC 2243 – Successfully opposed appeal by H against District Court judgment declining take down of historic online news articles under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015.
  • Professional Conduct Committee v Rairi HPDT 1319/Med22/547P, 14 August 2023 – successfully prosecuted medical practitioner for professional misconduct amounting to negligence.
  • Disciple v Police [2022] NZHC 2797 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by a member of the Gloriavale Christian Community who pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault.  
  • Labrador Entertainment Inc v Moore [2022] NZHC 2674 (2022) 26 PRNZ 174 – successfully obtained orders for the examination of witnesses pursuant to a letter of request from the United States District Court.  
  • Pilgrim v Attorney-General (No.15) [2022] NZEmpC 162 – successfully obtained ruling that accredited news media may be present when evidence adduced in camera.
  • Waikato District Health Board v Radio New Zealand Ltd [2021] NZHC 2002 – successfully argued for  Radio New Zealand to be permitted to keep its news article relating to hacked health information online following successful injunction application by WDHB.  
  • Professional Conduct Committee v Davison HPDT 1127/MLS20/474P, 27 November 2020 – acted for health practitioner charged with having convictions that reflect adversely on their fitness to practice and professional misconduct.  
  • R v Morris-Bamber [2020] NZHC 2534 – successfully opposed application by defendant charged with murder for take down order of historic online news articles detailing previous convictions.  
  • Palmerston North City Council v Fortress Information Systems Ltd [2020] NZHC 1364 – successfully opposed application by civil defendant for non-publication order following publication of report that plaintiff had obtained a without notice freezing order.
  • Kempson v R [2020] NZSC 158 – successfully opposed application for continued interim suppression of name pending disposition of appeals brought by Grace Millane’s killer.
  • Parker v R & Stuff Ltd [2020] NZCA 502 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by professional boxer Joseph Parker when the Crown alleged he was connected to serious criminal offending.
  • America’s Cup Event Ltd v NZME Publishing Ltd [2020] NZHC 1756 – acted for NZME in seeking to overturn injunction restraining publication of draft audit report critical of ACE and Team New Zealand in relation to the application of public funds.
  • PQW v Mallard [2020] NZHC 1749 – acted for the Speaker of the House in his defence of defamation proceedings.
  • X v R & Stuff Ltd [2020] NZHC 1345 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by high profile sporting figure allegedly connected to serious criminal offending.
  • Driver v RNZ & Ors  [2019] NZHC 3275 – successfully applied to strike out remaining causes of action in defamation on limitation and abuse of process grounds.
  • Ngaamo v NZ Police [2019] NZHC 3129 – successfully opposed application for permanent name suppression for high profile personality convicted of domestic abuse. 
  • Chiv v Stuff Limited [2019] NZHC 767 – successfully opposed application for injunction to require take down of allegedly defamatory online article.   
  • Arnold v Stuff Ltd & Shadbolt - successfully defended The Southland Times against a defamation claim brought by Cr Karen Arnold against the newspaper and Mayor Shadbolt (jury trial).  
  • Wall v Fairfax New Zealand Ltd  [2018] NZHC 104, [2018] 2 NZLR 471, (2018) 11 HRNZ 373 –successfully defended a claim that cartoons caused racial disharmony in breach of section 61 of the Human Rights Act 1993 with reference to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and freedom of expression issues.
  • Driver v Radio New Zealand & Ors [2017] NZHC 3188 – successfully opposed plaintiff’s application to extend primary limitation period and obtained security for costs for nine media defendants.
  • Noble v Aharoni  [2016] NZHC 1995, [2016] NZAR 1177 – successfully overturned an interim injunction restraining publication of a defamatory notice on pleading a truth defence.
  • R v Warren  [2016] NZHC 1728 – successfully overturned an interim suppression order suppressing the names of police officers injured during an armed siege.  
  • Arnold v Fairfax New Zealand Ltd [2016] NZHC 207 – successfully opposed an application to strike out an honest opinion defence.
  • CPA Australia Ltd v NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants  [2015] NZHC 1854, (2015) 14 TCLR 149 – successfully defended a defamation claim by one professional body against another (instructing solicitor / junior counsel).
  • Lyttelton v R  [2015] NZCA 279; [2016] 1 NZLR 21 – successfully opposed an appeal against a refusal to order take down of historic online articles prior to a criminal trial.
Documents
  • Cao v Stuff Ltd [2024] NZHC 44 – Successfully defended media entity Stuff Ltd and its former journalist in defamation proceedings, brought by the promoters of the Waikato Cherry Tree Festival, on 6 of the 7 publications sued on (jury trial).
  • H v Stuff Ltd [2023] NZHC 2243 – Successfully opposed appeal by H against District Court judgment declining take down of historic online news articles under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015.
  • Professional Conduct Committee v Rairi HPDT 1319/Med22/547P, 14 August 2023 – successfully prosecuted medical practitioner for professional misconduct amounting to negligence.
  • Disciple v Police [2022] NZHC 2797 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by a member of the Gloriavale Christian Community who pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault.  
  • Labrador Entertainment Inc v Moore [2022] NZHC 2674 (2022) 26 PRNZ 174 – successfully obtained orders for the examination of witnesses pursuant to a letter of request from the United States District Court.  
  • Pilgrim v Attorney-General (No.15) [2022] NZEmpC 162 – successfully obtained ruling that accredited news media may be present when evidence adduced in camera.
  • Waikato District Health Board v Radio New Zealand Ltd [2021] NZHC 2002 – successfully argued for  Radio New Zealand to be permitted to keep its news article relating to hacked health information online following successful injunction application by WDHB.  
  • Professional Conduct Committee v Davison HPDT 1127/MLS20/474P, 27 November 2020 – acted for health practitioner charged with having convictions that reflect adversely on their fitness to practice and professional misconduct.  
  • R v Morris-Bamber [2020] NZHC 2534 – successfully opposed application by defendant charged with murder for take down order of historic online news articles detailing previous convictions.  
  • Palmerston North City Council v Fortress Information Systems Ltd [2020] NZHC 1364 – successfully opposed application by civil defendant for non-publication order following publication of report that plaintiff had obtained a without notice freezing order.
  • Kempson v R [2020] NZSC 158 – successfully opposed application for continued interim suppression of name pending disposition of appeals brought by Grace Millane’s killer.
  • Parker v R & Stuff Ltd [2020] NZCA 502 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by professional boxer Joseph Parker when the Crown alleged he was connected to serious criminal offending.
  • America’s Cup Event Ltd v NZME Publishing Ltd [2020] NZHC 1756 – acted for NZME in seeking to overturn injunction restraining publication of draft audit report critical of ACE and Team New Zealand in relation to the application of public funds.
  • PQW v Mallard [2020] NZHC 1749 – acted for the Speaker of the House in his defence of defamation proceedings.
  • X v R & Stuff Ltd [2020] NZHC 1345 – successfully opposed application for permanent suppression of name by high profile sporting figure allegedly connected to serious criminal offending.
  • Driver v RNZ & Ors  [2019] NZHC 3275 – successfully applied to strike out remaining causes of action in defamation on limitation and abuse of process grounds.
  • Ngaamo v NZ Police [2019] NZHC 3129 – successfully opposed application for permanent name suppression for high profile personality convicted of domestic abuse. 
  • Chiv v Stuff Limited [2019] NZHC 767 – successfully opposed application for injunction to require take down of allegedly defamatory online article.   
  • Arnold v Stuff Ltd & Shadbolt - successfully defended The Southland Times against a defamation claim brought by Cr Karen Arnold against the newspaper and Mayor Shadbolt (jury trial).  
  • Wall v Fairfax New Zealand Ltd  [2018] NZHC 104, [2018] 2 NZLR 471, (2018) 11 HRNZ 373 –successfully defended a claim that cartoons caused racial disharmony in breach of section 61 of the Human Rights Act 1993 with reference to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and freedom of expression issues.
  • Driver v Radio New Zealand & Ors [2017] NZHC 3188 – successfully opposed plaintiff’s application to extend primary limitation period and obtained security for costs for nine media defendants.
  • Noble v Aharoni  [2016] NZHC 1995, [2016] NZAR 1177 – successfully overturned an interim injunction restraining publication of a defamatory notice on pleading a truth defence.
  • R v Warren  [2016] NZHC 1728 – successfully overturned an interim suppression order suppressing the names of police officers injured during an armed siege.  
  • Arnold v Fairfax New Zealand Ltd [2016] NZHC 207 – successfully opposed an application to strike out an honest opinion defence.
  • CPA Australia Ltd v NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants  [2015] NZHC 1854, (2015) 14 TCLR 149 – successfully defended a defamation claim by one professional body against another (instructing solicitor / junior counsel).
  • Lyttelton v R  [2015] NZCA 279; [2016] 1 NZLR 21 – successfully opposed an appeal against a refusal to order take down of historic online articles prior to a criminal trial.
Professional Activities

Admitted to the Bar: 1991

Partner – Izard Weston: 1998 - 2018

Barrister Sole: 2018

Qualifications

BCom/LLB (Cant)

Year Admitted:  1991

Barrister Sole:  2018

Robert
Stewart
rkpstewart@shortlandchambers.co.nz
+64 21 868 679
+64 9 307 9803
Shortland Chambers