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Free Speech Union - Latest News [Page 5]
Woman Arrested For Peaceful Counter-protest: New Zealand’s Police Must Protect Right To Peaceful Protest
Monday, 27 November 2023, 12:32 pm | Free Speech Union
At the pro-Palestinian protest on Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday, a peaceful counter-protestor was arrested for silently holding a sign. New Zealand’s Police must not fall into the trap of using “breach of the peace” laws to silence ... More >>
Free Speech Union Welcomes Government’s Early Steps To Defend Free Speech
Friday, 24 November 2023, 2:21 pm | Free Speech Union
Policy objectives announced today by the Incoming-Government will strengthen free speech in New Zealand. The Free Speech Union welcomes these early steps to once again protect free speech as the foundation of our human rights framework, says Jonathan ... More >>
Principal’s Eligibility Shouldn’t Depend On Ideological Litmus Test
Wednesday, 22 November 2023, 9:39 am | Free Speech Union
At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, the Free Speech Union has issued a submission opposing the proposed Principal Eligibility Criteria. As currently drafted, the criteria stand to impose specific ideology requirements on prospective principals, ... More >>
Thousands Sign Public Letter Calling For Tolerance In Debate Over Israel-Gaza Conflict
Monday, 13 November 2023, 12:33 pm | Free Speech Union
In just 48 hours, thousands of New Zealanders have joined their voices together in calling for a de-escalation of tensions over conflict in Israel and Gaza. We must insist that free speech enable us to peacefully express our strongly held opinions ... More >>
Censorship Doesn’t Work: National's Policy To Ban Patches Is Counterproductive
Wednesday, 1 November 2023, 2:12 pm | Free Speech Union
National’s policy to ban gang patches in public will cause more harm than good. It won’t protect those who are victims of gang violence and crime, and will push gangs further underground to fester. It’s a bad policy and will be counterproductive, ... More >>
Freedom Of Expression Protects Right To Burn Israeli Flag
Tuesday, 31 October 2023, 2:13 pm | Free Speech Union
At recent protests in Auckland denouncing conflict in the Middle East, protestors burned an Israeli flag. This action has been met with some condemnation, and several Police complaints have been laid. The Free Speech Union insists that this action ... More >>
Free Speech Union Lays Complaint With Human Rights Review Tribunal Against TDC Over Political Discrimination
Friday, 20 October 2023, 12:48 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union has laid a complaint with the Human Rights Review Tribunal over Taupō District Council’s cancellation of Julian Batchelor’s Stop Co-Governance event in April this year. This cancellation was based on disapproval of the political ... More >>
Cross-party Support For Free Speech Union Draft Legislation To Counter 'Thugs' Veto'
Friday, 6 October 2023, 12:24 pm | Free Speech Union
Following consultation with political parties, public servants, and civil society, the Free Speech Union has released the ' Protection of the Freedom of Expression Bill ' with cross-party support. This Bill will amend health and safety requirements ... More >>
Leaked University Of Auckland Survey Confirms Again, Academic Freedom Is Under Fire
Monday, 2 October 2023, 12:15 pm | Free Speech Union
2 October, 2023 An internal University of Auckland survey has once again confirmed concerns that the Free Speech Union has raised for several years: academic freedom is under fire in New Zealand. This is a serious issue, but our leaders have their ... More >>
Leaked University Of Auckland Survey Confirms Again, Academic Freedom Is Under Fire
Monday, 2 October 2023, 11:13 am | Free Speech Union
An internal University of Auckland survey has once again confirmed concerns that the Free Speech Union has raised for several years: academic freedom is under fire in New Zealand. This is a serious issue, but our leaders have their hands in the ... More >>
Concerns Over Mātauranga Engagement Programme Prohibiting The Expression Of Dissenting Views
Thursday, 28 September 2023, 3:48 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union is concerned that the University of Auckland is failing to uphold academic freedom values in its upcoming Mātauranga Engagement Programme, says Jonathan Ayling, the Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. “While the ... More >>
Te Whatu Ora Must Stand By Employees’ Rights To Freedom Of Thought And Speech
Monday, 25 September 2023, 1:22 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union insists that Te Whatu Ora stand by their employees’ rights of freedom of thought and speech after an incident last week. We were informed by one of their members who’d had a complaint laid against them due to opinions held ... More >>
Te Whatu Ora Must Stand By Employees’ Rights To Freedom Of Thought And Speech
Monday, 25 September 2023, 1:22 pm | Free Speech Union
25 September 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Te Whatu Ora must stand by employees’ rights to freedom of thought and speech The Free Speech Union insists that Te Whatu Ora stand by their employees’ rights of freedom of thought and speech ... More >>
Free Speech Must Be At The Heart Of Fight Against Disinformation
Thursday, 14 September 2023, 5:25 pm | Free Speech Union
InternetNZ has announced today a fund of $680,000 from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) to provide grants to minimise the harms of disinformation in New Zealand. The Free Speech Union acknowledges that disinformation is a perennial threat ... More >>
Free Speech Union Welcomes DIA’s Decision To Release Full Submissions On ‘Super Regulator’
Tuesday, 12 September 2023, 11:11 am | Free Speech Union
Yesterday, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) announced they will release a report containing all submissions on the proposal to regulate online services and media platforms. The Free Speech Union welcomes this decision which ensures transparency ... More >>
Thousands Call For Teaching Council To Maintain Teacher Discretion Over Preferred Pronouns
Friday, 1 September 2023, 12:04 pm | Free Speech Union
In just 24 hours, over 5,000 Kiwis have signed a petition calling on the Teaching Council to maintain teacher discretion regarding the use of preferred pronouns. A one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate for sensitive questions related to identity, ... More >>
Name Suppression Laws Manifestly Unjust: Reform Needed
Friday, 25 August 2023, 12:51 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union is calling for an overhaul of name suppression laws in New Zealand. Judges have applied name suppression orders increasingly liberally, and this leaves victims voiceless and powerless, says Free Speech Union Legal Spokesperson, ... More >>
Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill Risks Viability Of Independent Media
Wednesday, 23 August 2023, 6:58 am | Free Speech Union
The Government’s Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill requirement that news media entities be subject to a “professional standards condition" threatens to curtail the role of the 4th Estate. This aspect of the legislation will limit media diversity ... More >>
Over 16,000 Submissions Generated Against Govt's Media Regulation Proposals Through Free Speech Union Online Tool
Wednesday, 2 August 2023, 11:51 am | Free Speech Union
Over 16,400 submissions have been made against the Department of Internal Affairs' ‘Safer Online Services and Media Platforms' proposals through the Free Speech Unions online tool at freespeechsubmission.com . Kiwis are sending a message loud and clear ... More >>
Polling Shows Majority Of Kiwis Unaware Of Current Or Proposed Media Regulation
Monday, 24 July 2023, 12:08 pm | Free Speech Union
Only a quarter of Kiwis know of the Government’s plan to radically overhaul our online content and media regulation regime, and only a similar number know of our current online regulation laws. On these numbers, New Zealand risks walking into ... More >>
