Precedent we set in Portia Mao's case pays off!

Together, we set an important precedent for Kiwis speech rights with Portia Mao's case, and this week, we've seen the flow on effect. 🎉

Recently, with the Free Speech Union's help, Kiwi journalist Portia Mao successfully challenged a gag order imposed on her by the NZ District Court. Portia had been banned by the court from publishing anything related to her investigation into an Auckland political candidate and his strident views in support of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Why? The complainant, Morgan Xiao, claimed under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) that his feelings had been grievously hurt. 🤦‍♂️

We couldn't stand idly by, so quickly rallied around Portia to support a legal case.

It put the sympathisers of foreign authoritarian governments on notice: Don't use NZ law to silence investigative journalism. And now the proof of Portia's precedent is in. A second brave journalist, Justin Wong of Stuff, has seen off an almost identical attempt by Morgan Xiao to silence Wong's reporting.

Like the revelations made by Portia, Wong's investigations into Beijing's foreign interference campaigns here in NZ have helped expose "civilian" networks known as the "United Front" whereby proxies act to bribe, intimidate and threaten opponents of the CCP around the globe.

While plenty of people in business, and many in politics, have crossed their fingers or put their heads in the sand over this issue, a small band of journalists and a few hardy pro-democracy dissidents have continued bravely sounding the alarm about foreign interference.

The judge's decision just released in favour of Justin Wong - which we hope will get some coverage in the news media now - frequently cites Mao's case and points out how fundamentally incompatible such attempts to censor journalists must be regarded in a democracy.

We want to congratulate Justin and the legal team at Stuff for this win. Good old-fashioned investigative reporting depends on journalists and their news organisations being prepared to stand up to various threats.

Portia's courage paved the way, FSU supporters backed the cause 100%, and Justin Wong and the Stuff team have shown real-backbone. 💪

This is what it takes to defend NZ's Bill of Rights Act. 

The fight, however, is just heating up. We've become aware of further stories of intimidation and blackmail toward outspoken pro-democracy members of the Chinese community, especially in Auckland. Some will speak up, but they need a national network of supporters like the Free Speech Union to help expose and challenge this growing threat to civil liberties.

Together, we're making a huge difference. But our work doesn't stop herel.

You can donate here! 

Thank you once again for standing up for our democratic rights. It's working.

Nick Hanne | Education Partnerships Manager