Free Speech Union - Latest News [Page 2]
If Paul Goldsmith Asks Dumb Questions, He’ll Get Stupid Answers
Tuesday, 1 October 2024, 1:24 pm | Free Speech Union
“Further, it is entirely unclear what definition will be used to define ‘hate-motivation’, and it seems very likely to remain unclear as this review progresses. More >>
Restoring A Culture Of Free Speech Essential To Rebuilding Public Confidence
Saturday, 21 September 2024, 2:47 pm | Free Speech Union
Our democracy depends on all voices being heard, and this includes holding politicians and journalists to account. It is only with free speech that we have democracy. More >>
New Law To Ban Gang Patches A Dangerous Move For New Zealand
Friday, 20 September 2024, 7:04 pm | Free Speech Union
Censorship can be a natural impulse to things we don’t like, but it’s better to know when hateful or offensive ideas exist. Otherwise, they’re buried underground to fester and can crop up unexpectedly. We see this legislation no differently. More >>
BSA Report Bangs Drum For Censorship By Claiming Freedom Of Expression Causes ‘harm’, From Self-selecting Sample
Monday, 16 September 2024, 2:16 am | Free Speech Union
The BSA's report on harmful speech raises concerns about subjectivity and potential censorship of controversial views, according to Free Speech Union’s Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling. More >>
Two Prominent Free Speech Advocates To Tour New Zealand With Free Speech Union Before End Of The Year
Monday, 16 September 2024, 1:46 am | Free Speech Union
We’re thrilled to announce that Distinguished Prof. Nigel Biggar (Oxford University) and Dr. Peter Boghossian (Portland State University) will both tour New Zealand with the Free Speech Union before the end of the year, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech ... More >>
Internal AUT Law School Survey Reiterates Growing Challenges To Academic Freedom
Sunday, 15 September 2024, 11:08 pm | Free Speech Union
We’ve contacted the Vice-Chancellor of AUT and Minister of Tertiary Education, challenging them to take action and display the leadership that is needed to defend all academics free speech and right to academic freedom. More >>
Free Speech Union Submits In Opposition To Law Commission Consultation On Amendments To Human Rights Act
Saturday, 14 September 2024, 11:53 pm | Free Speech Union
The paper examines extending section 21 of the Human Rights Act prohibited grounds of discrimination to include people who are transgender, non-binary and with innate variations of sex characteristics. More >>
Massey University Staff Survey Another Alarm Bell For Academic Freedom In New Zealand
Friday, 13 September 2024, 3:20 pm | Free Speech Union
How do academics progress knowledge in an environment that doesn’t welcome debate and dissenting ideas? These results come alongside a series of other internal surveys from universities such as AUT and the University of Auckland, which echo similar ... More >>
Postal Workers Union’s Calls For Censorship Must Be Challenged
Tuesday, 27 August 2024, 2:02 pm | Free Speech Union
Comments made by John Maynard, the co-national president of the Postal Workers Union, play into calls for censorship and fail to stand up for workers’ most basic right; their right to free speech, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech ... More >>
Free Speech Union Welcomes Comprehensive Report On Academic Freedom In New Zealand By NZI's Dr. James Kierstead
Wednesday, 21 August 2024, 7:52 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union applauds the New Zealand Initiative’s launch of its largest report ever, thoroughly documenting the troubling state of academic freedom in New Zealand. This is important research that highlights the ongoing failure on the part ... More >>
FSU Welcomes Appointment Of Dr. Melissa Derby As Race Relations Commissioner
Friday, 16 August 2024, 3:21 pm | Free Speech Union
Dr. Derby’s practical and academic experience makes her well suited to provide desperately needed leadership in the conversation regarding Race Relations. More >>
NZME’s Lack Of Backbone Threatens To Further Undermine Both Trust In Media And Public Debate
Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 4:00 pm | Free Speech Union
NZME should get back to the business of offering world class media, with advertising options included for all legal adverts, not picking and choosing which opinions deserve a hearing, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. More >>
Thousands Submit To Law Commission Consultation In Just 24 Hours, Saying ‘No’ To Speech Laws
Tuesday, 30 July 2024, 3:44 pm | Free Speech Union
All Kiwis have the right to live free from discrimination, but anti-discrimination efforts are built on speech rights, not challenged by them, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. More >>
Free Speech Union Launches Professional Membership To Defend Free Speech In Law
Monday, 22 July 2024, 8:27 am | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union has launched a professional membership especially for lawyers to ensure free speech is upheld and cherished within the legal profession, says Thomas Newman, the co-chair of the Legal Council for Free Speech. More >>
Free Speech Union Joins Sister Organisations In Launching International Association Of Free Speech Unions
Wednesday, 10 July 2024, 12:12 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union was first founded in the United Kingdom in 2020, with the Free Speech Union New Zealand setting up the following year. These two organisations are now the largest national advocates for free speech in their countries: Jonathan Ayling More >>
Free Speech Union Applauds University Of Otago’s New Gold Standard Of Free Speech Statements
Wednesday, 10 July 2024, 8:19 am | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union strongly welcomes the University of Otago’s impressive statement on free speech released today, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. More >>
Amendments To Gang Insignia Bill Step In Right Direction, But Flaws Remain
Friday, 5 July 2024, 2:26 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union welcomes proposed amendments to the Gang Insignia Bill by the Justice Select Committee, which go some way to addressing the weaknesses of this draft legislation, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. More >>
Thousands Sign Public Letter In 24 Hours, Calling On Government To Restore Academic Freedom
Friday, 5 July 2024, 8:13 am | Free Speech Union
“It’s clear to Kiwis that academic freedom in New Zealand is under threat. In recent years, both in New Zealand and abroad, we’ve seen the consistent pattern of universities stifling opinions, and individuals feeling unable to speak freely. More >>
Local Democracy Under Threat: Councillors’ Free Speech In Question
Thursday, 4 July 2024, 5:38 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union continues to be aware of councils with censorial attitudes. Just within the past month we’ve been notified of four councils failing to uphold free speech. This is an issue we have followed for several years. More >>
Citizens Advice Bureau Breaches Bill Of Rights By Discriminating In Booking Cancellation
Friday, 28 June 2024, 1:24 pm | Free Speech Union
“CAB claim the booking cancellation occurred because the Party misrepresented the event as endorsed by CAB. But the New Zealand Women’s Rights Party only referred to CAB in a Facebook event when listing the location for where the meeting was to ... More >>