By Dan Satherley
High-profile lawyer Barry Hart has criticised a new bill aiming to restrict the availability of name suppression.
Under new rules drafted by Justice Minister Simon Power, name suppression will only be available under a set of strict criteria, and no exceptions will be made for a person's public profile.
A complete list of the bill's changes can be read here.
Mr Hart told 3 News there is "nothing wrong" with the law as it is.
"I can't see why they are making it even more regulated," he says.
"It's just another example of the rights of individual New Zealanders being eroded day by day. It just goes on and on."
Mr Hart says the bill is a "right wing" overreaction to a minority of cases.
"There is already ample scope for discretion, there's no need to make it so restrictive.
"[The bill's changes] are not there for the benefit of New Zealanders."
Blogger Cameron Slater, who campaigned for stricter rules around name suppression, called it "a start", but full of "weasel clauses".
3 News