Articles from ‘elocal magazine’ in ‘Freedom of Speech’

In an open letter to the University of Sydney, Voices for Freedom co-founder Alia Bland condemns Jacinda Ardern’s appointment as Professor of Practice. Challenging the former prime minister’s reputation for empathy and social cohesion, Bland recounts the personal, financial and social consequences she attributes to New Zealand’s COVID-19 policies. She questions whether the university has considered the experiences of those who lost livelihoods,…

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says Australian authorities cancelled his visa after questioning him about inflammatory statements concerning religious communities. His case raises a fundamental question for New Zealanders: when does protecting the public justify restricting a person's freedom, and who decides where that line is drawn? Report by eLocal | 23 October 2026 · Freedom of expression is often described as one of democracy's most…

New Zealand abolished the crime of blasphemous libel in 2019, but a renewed debate over extending hate-speech protections to religion has raised a harder question: can the law protect religious people from hatred without protecting religious ideas from criticism or ridicule? Iranian-born lawyer and Free Speech Union Council member Samira Taghavi warns that the distinction can disappear once the state is given power to police offensive religious…

A West Coast-Tasman candidate debate has sparked controversy after organisers excluded Sue Grey from the podium under a reported 5% party-vote threshold rule. Supporters argue the decision denies local voters the opportunity to hear from all candidates contesting the electorate. Critics are calling on the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union to open the Greymouth debate to every official candidate on the ballot. GREYMOUTH, NZ Serious concerns over…

The Free Speech Union rejects comments made by Brian Tamaki calling for New Zealand to be "purged" of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims, and suggesting retaliatory attacks on mosques and temples. "These remarks are divisive and inflammatory and run contrary to the principles of a free and pluralistic society," says Free Speech Union CEO Jillaine Heather. · "One of the core principles of a liberal democracy is that people are judged by their own…

Source: Free Speech Union Full Submission: Read Full Submission · Published: April 2026 · The Free Speech Union has raised serious concerns over the proposed Policing Amendment Bill, warning it would grant police sweeping new powers to film individuals, detain them, and compel identification at public gatherings. · Scenario Raises Alarm · Turn up to a peaceful protest. An officer films you. A closure notice is issued because a constable…

“The Free Speech Union warns that the United Kingdom's threat to block X entirely over Grok AI failures shows how online safety regulation rapidly escalates from addressing illegal content to silencing entire platforms." “UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed this week that all options are on the table, including blocking X under the Online Safety Act, after Grok AI was used to create child sexual abuse material. Indonesia became the first…

The Free Speech Union is thrilled that the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2), which it was extensively involved in, has passed its Third Reading and will become law. This is a huge victory and a pivotal moment as the Bill promises to restore free speech on university campuses and their character as institutions that protect and value rigorous debate, says Stephanie Martin, spokesperson for the Inter-University Council on Academic…