New Zealand Free Speech Union

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Free Speech Coalition.
New Zealand Free Speech Union logo

The New Zealand Free Speech Union is an organisation that advocates for freedom of speech. It was formed as the Free Speech Coalition in 2018 and relaunched as the Free Speech Union in 2021.[1][2]

Goals and organisation[]

The Free Speech Union's stated goal is to defend and promote the free exchange of information and to educate people of the importance of free speech in New Zealand. The group also claims support from both sides of the political and ideological spectrum.[3][4] Notable members and supporters of the NZ Free Speech Union have included former National Party leader Judith Collins, ACT Party leader David Seymour, former Labour Party Chief of Staff Matt McCarten, and left-wing journalist Chris Trotter.[5][4]

The NZFSU is the first sister group of the Free Speech Union of the UK and uses the name under license.[6] It is a registered trade union based in Wellington, New Zealand.[6]

Campaigns[]

The Coalition formed in 2018 in response to the canceling of an event to be held by alt-right speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux at an Auckland Council-owned venue.[7][6][8] The Coalition twice unsuccessfully challenged the cancellation in court.[9]

During the 2019 Bay of Plenty local elections, the Free Speech Coalition criticised the Rotorua Lakes District Council for investigating mayoral candidate Reynold MacPherson for hate speech after he made comments likening Councillor Tania Tapsell to the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Coalition spokesperson Dr David Cumin emphasized that the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 "clearly stated everyone had the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form."[10]

In November 2021, the Free Speech Union supported Otago Regional Council councillor Michael Laws, who was the subject of a code of conduct investigation over his criticism of Council staff in the Otago Daily Times newspaper. The Union's Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling urged Council chief executive Sarah Gardner to withdraw her complaint and called for the Council's code of conduct to be amended, claiming that it was being used as a "gagging order" to silence elected councillors who were representing ratepayers. The Union also offered its support to Laws.[11] Laws was subsequently cleared of wrongdoing by the investigation.[12]

In November 2021, the Free Speech Union expressed support for seven University of Auckland academics (the so-called "Listener Seven") who had been censured by the Royal Society for writing a controversial letter in the New Zealand Listener in July 2021 disputing the scientific legitimacy of Mātauranga Māori (indigenous Māori knowledge). The Royal Society also launched an investigation of three of the "Listener Seven," who were Fellows of the Royal Society. In response, Ayling urged other academics to defend science at their "own peril" and accused the Royal Society of "abandoning its own heritage and tradition of academic freedom."[13] In response, the Free Speech Union created an academic freedom fund in December 2021 to support two of the academics under investigation including Garth Cooper.[4][14]

References[]

  1. ^ "New Trade Union Launched To Promote Free Speech". Free Speech Union. Scoop. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. ^ Earley, Melanie (7 October 2019). "Free Speech Coalition appeals after court rejects review of decision to ban controversial Canadian speakers". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Free Speech Union (New Zealand). Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Du Fresne, Karl (5 December 2021). "Free speech under attack?". Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. ^ ""More important than politics" – Matt McCarten and David Seymour join the Free Speech Union". Waikanae Watch. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "The Free Speech Union". The Daily Blog. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  7. ^ Weekes, John (4 August 2020). "Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux: 'Thugs' veto' canned visit, court told". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  8. ^ Niall, Tony (25 July 2018). "Right-wing Canadian speakers' visit canned, legal action on back burner". Stuff. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  9. ^ Hurley, Sam (30 April 2021). "'Stop appealing': Auckland Mayor Phil Goff sends message to free speech activists after latest court decision". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  10. ^ Makiha, Kelly (27 May 2019). "'Hate speech' row erupts after Rotorua councillor Tania Tapsell compared to the Pied Piper". Rotorua Daily Post. NZME. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021.
  11. ^ MacLean, Hamish (9 November 2021). "Complaint looms over proceedings: Laws". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  12. ^ MacLean, Hamish (13 December 2021). "Complaint cost irks councillor". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  13. ^ Sachdeva, Sam (18 November 2021). "Royal Society investigation into mātauranga Māori letter sparks academic debate". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. ^ NZ Free Speech Union (15 December 2021). "Free Speech Union Welcomes Vice-Chancellor's Pivot Towards Free Speech". Scoop. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021.

External links[]


Stub icon

This article related to a New Zealand trade union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""