Hannah Spierer

Hannah Spierer, also known as Sarah Smith, (born circa 1985 ) is a host and co-founder of the far right alternative media platform Counterspin Media. She is the partner of fellow Counterspin host and co-founder Kelvyn Alp. During the 2000s, Spierer studied political science at the University of Auckland, holding positions in the Auckland University Students Association's and the Green Party's campus branch. During the Parliament occupation, Spierer advocated that women play a subservient role in the alt-right movement. During a Counterspin Media tour in Bluff, Spierer attributed White guilt and systemic racism to Marxism.

Following anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's Auckland speaking event on 25 March 2023, Spierer confronted Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who had attended the event to support counter-demonstrators, who disrupted Keen-Minshull's speech. During the altercation, Davidson stated that "I am a prevention violence minister, and I know who causes violence in the world. It is white cis men, that is white cis men who cause violence in the world". Davidson's remarks attracted significant domestic media attention as well as criticism from ACT Party leader David Seymour, National Party leader Christopher Luxon, and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Davidson had made the comment after she had been hit by a passing motorcyclist who was part of a support group from Pastor Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church.

Legal troubles Christchurch mosque shooting livestream dissemination On 31 August 2022, Spierer and her partner Alp appeared in the Christchurch District Court, on charges of distributing objectionable material in violation of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification (FVPC) Act 1993. Spierer was charged with one count of distributing an objectionable publication, one charge of failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search and obstructing police. The couple had allegedly distributed a documentary deemened an objectionable publication under the FVPC Act 1993 on 23 February in 2022, which received a two-year ban. The two refused to enter the dock and read statements disputing the court's authority. They were forcibly moved into the dock by court security and police. Supporters of the couple and "anti-fascist" counter-protesters also gathered outside the courtroom. In late October 2023, Justice Bruce Davidson confirmed that Spierer and Alp's objectionable publication case had been transferred from Christchurch to the Wellington District Court for the defendants' convenience. A pre-trial date of 14 February 2024 was set, with the objectionable publication revealed to be a so-called documentary containing livestream footage of the Christchurch mosque shootings; which had been banned by the Classification Office in the days after the shootings.

On 14 February 2024, Spierer and Alp attended pre-trial arguments in the objectionable publication case at the Wellington District Court. Davidson issued an interim order suppressing the defence and Crown counsels' arguments. In mid-July 2024, Spierer and Alp's lawyer Tim Leighton challenged the Crown's use of 14,000 terabytes of data extracted from dozens of devices seized by Police from the defendants. The couple's counsel argued that they were journalists and had a right to protect their sources. Leighton argued that the Crown's digital evidence was inadmissible due to issues around privacy privileges and data restructuring. The Wellington High Court justice has reserved their decision.

2021 unlawful travel During a COVID-19 lockdown on 22 October 2021, Spierer and Alp were arrested after travelling from Auckland (which was under an Alert Level 3 lockdown) to Wellington to support anti-vaccination activist Sue Grey during a hearing at the Wellington High Court. Alp was arrested by Police for travelling without applying for a travel exemption. In late May 2024, Alp's case against the Police for wrongful arrest was dismissed by Justice Kevin Kelly of the Wellington District Court.

Personal life Spierer is the partner of Alp, the co-founder of Counterspin Media. The couple have two children.