Prominent Irish author Helen Joyce to tour with Free Speech Union in November

01 October 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Prominent Irish author Helen Joyce to tour with Free Speech Union in November

The Free Speech Union is delighted to bring Helen Joyce, a prominent Irish journalist, author, and free speech advocate, to New Zealand for their next tour to meet with policymakers, politicians, journalists, academics, and Union members. We’re excited for Joyce to influence current conversations on the role of free speech in policy decisions, says Jillaine Heather, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union.

“Helen Joyce is known for her strong defence of free speech and her incisive and courageous work on gender identity and its implications for society. She joined the Economist in 2005, holding several senior editorial roles. Her 2021 book, Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, became a Sunday Times bestseller and was named a Book of the Year by The Times, Spectator, and Observer.

“In 2022, Joyce left The Economist to become Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters, a UK-based campaign group focused on sex-based rights. Her public speaking engagements have sparked both support and protest, underscoring the contentious nature of the issues she addresses and the need for constructive dialogue on this issue.

“Our tour with Joyce comes at a time when free speech on contentious issues is increasingly under pressure globally and in New Zealand, especially on the tension between gender ideology and sex-based rights. Recommendations in the recent Ia Tangata report by the Law Commission would have significant impacts on Kiwis’ free speech rights, specifically their ability to speak about sex and gender, especially in workplaces, schools, and healthcare. We call on the Minister of Justice to reject these recommendations.

“Contested topics must remain open for discussion, not restricted by law. Our tour with Joyce will run from 1^st-9^th November across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, and then close in Christchurch with our AGM and conference. We look forward to Joyce furthering this necessary conversation in New Zealand.”