Former Auckland councillor awarded $225,000 in defamation case

Friday 5 December 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 5 Dec 2025, 3:26pm

In this story High Court

The High Court has ordered social media activist Morgan Xiao to pay $225,000 in damages to former Auckland councillor Paul Young. The ruling follows a 23-month campaign of vilification on WeChat, where Xiao made claims regarding Young's fitness for office and foreign influence. Xiao must also remove the defamatory posts.

How they headlined it

12:40pm3:26pm

1. NewsroomFri 5 Dec 2025, 12:40pm

   Ex-Auckland councillor wins $225,000 damages off Chinese social media activist (opens in new tab)

2. RNZFri 5 Dec 2025, 1:03pm

   Pro-Beijing activist loses defamation case against former Auckland councillor (opens in new tab)

3. The PostFri 5 Dec 2025, 3:26pm

   Former Auckland councillor awarded $225k in defamation damages (opens in new tab)