Free speech at local councils, Parliament, schools, universities - and that's just last month!

We don't just put out fires. To change New Zealand’s culture towards one that celebrates free speech and a diversity of views, we’ve got to think of the long game.

That’s why we’re in schools, local councils, meeting with a Cabinet Minister, and engaging with university students... And that’s just in the past couple of weeks! 💪

Free speech training for Taupo District Council 

I joined our Chief Executive last week at Taupo District Council with their councillors and staff for an extensive conversation about free speech, and to help them implement a policy that will defend ratepayers’ freedom of expression. These were both conditions we put in place when we decided not to pursue legal action against the council for failing to respect rights to venue access.

As always, our Chief Executive Jonathan was in fine form, delivering a strong and engaging presentation. Councillors were welcoming and asked lots of thoughtful questions, showing they’ve been having wider conversations about these issues. 🙌 

It was encouraging to see such genuine engagement, and we look forward to offering the same workshops to councils across the country.

Meeting at Parliament on free speech in our universities 

If we want to be a nation that values free speech and open discourse, our universities must lead the way. Currently, they are not. Just last week, Jonathan met with Minister Reti and some of his team to discuss just that.

Legislation that the Free Speech Union has assisted in drafting will be introduced to Parliament soon to protect both staff and students’ right to free speech and academic freedom. Without these liberties, universities are centers of indoctrination, not education.  

We’re proud to play a major part in restoring universities to be places where academics are free to be the critics and conscience of society.

Our book club kicks off next week! 

Keen to meet with other free speech advocates and go further in your pursuit of defending your voice?

Next week, we kick off our very own book club for paid FSU members.

Join me as we discuss the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Raymond Bradbury, a 20th century classic which explores issues of censorship and thought control.

Register for our book club here! (Not a member of the FSU yet? Sign up here!).  

Taking our message to schools and universities 

 I’m getting lot of inquiries about our Speak Up! programme that I offer to run in schools. It appears more teachers and schools are becoming aware of the importance of having these conversations with our young people.

If you know a teacher who might be interested, get in touch with me at [email protected]!

Following the great success we had at the University of Auckland O-Week a couple of weeks ago, not only are we running an event specifically for students next week, but we’ve already been back to engage with students. We’ve been generating discussion on topics that are often shied away from with good ol’ fashioned sandwich board.

(Can you see who drew the short straw?!) Check out some of our video content here.

Free Speech Union wine back on the menu...soon!

On a different note, thousands of Kiwis across the country have enjoyed our very own FSU wine from Jonathan and his wife’s vineyard over the past couple of years. While we sold out of our Liberty Blush this summer, there’s no need to panic!

Over the weekend, Jonathan, Grace, and some FSU supporters harvested a new crop on the vineyard... In addition to Liberty Blush, we’re also going to be launching a Sav (Liberty Bright) and a Pinot (Liberty Bold). 

Watch this space! 👀 

I’m so grateful that through the support of thousands of Kiwis, we can safeguard the future of free speech for generations to come.

Also – many of you have asked for updates on our campaign to ensure InternetNZ keeps the internet free. We’ve completed processing hundreds of registrations from you. Last night, the new constitution was adopted at InternetNZ's SGM. We anticipated this (so don't fear!), and we have a plan to ensure the internet is free and open for all Kiwis. We will keep you up to date. 

Thanks to the 100,000 Kiwis backing us, we’re not just reacting to stories of censorship, we’re preventing them in the first place, and that's worth celebrating.

Nick Hanne | Education Partnerships Manger
Free Speech Union

PS. Recently we completed our latest tour with an international guest, Dr. James Lindsay. We had a camera crew follow our tour and have a documentary currently in the works! Check out our teaser video here.