Crowdfunding page to help with filmmaker’s court fees

AUCKLAND: New Zealanders are crowdfunding to help pay for a Maori filmmaker’s legal fees as she faces a defamation suit from Sir Bob Jones.

The court proceedings were in response to a petition submitted to Parliament calling for Sir Bob’s knighthood to be revoked.

More than 70,000 people have now signed the petition, started by Rotoruabased filmmaker Renae Maihi, which was delivered to Parliament in March.

It was in response to Sir Bob’s February 2 column in the National Business Review calling for a Maori ‘‘Gratitude Day’’ instead of Waitangi Day.

The petition read: ‘‘In signing this petition we urge you, our Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, to take his knighthood away from him. It is in your power. Set a precedent for the country and a message that this will not be tolerated . . . ’’

No hearing date has yet been allocated, the High Court confirmed yesterday.

Now, an online page has been established to help pay for Ms Maihi’s legal costs.

Laura O’Connell Rapira, who launched the page, said the money would cover the court costs Ms Maihi would be forced to pay if she loses the case.

‘‘Renae is a grassroots filmmaker and mum. We must show her our support.’’

Sir Bob’s NBR column began with the line ‘‘time for a troll’’.

He then went on to write: ‘‘I have in mind a public holiday where Maori bring us breakfast in bed or weed our gardens, wash and polish our cars and so on, out of gratitude for existing.’’

A spokesman for Sir Bob said yesterday : ‘‘I will not be making a contribution.’’