Abstract
Hate speech legislation is extremely controversial, with a careful balancing act that must occur between giving effect to freedom of expression, and protecting targeted groups from the harms of hate speech. As there is no universal definition of hate speech, targeting hate speech towards the intended behaviour is extremely difficult across jurisdictions. There is an alarming rise of hate throughout the globe, manifesting itself in violence and intolerance towards minority groups, making this a pressing issue. This dissertation will explore how this balance is addressed in New Zealand, and how it should ideally be calibrated.