Television New Zealand Ltd v Haines - [2006] 2 NZLR 433

Defamation — Defences — Whether a defendant can set up different meanings from those pleaded by plaintiff and seek to prove the truth of alternative meanings — Whether defamatory meanings pleaded by defendant materially distinct from meanings asserted by plaintiff — Whether pleaded meaning, as opposed to actual words used, can be opinion for purposes of defence of honest opinion.

Defamation — Pleading, practice and evidence — Whether statement of defence to be repleaded — Whether statements expressions of opinion or statements of fact — Defamation Act 1992, ss 8, 9, 10 and 38.