Good morning,

History reveals that freedoms taken for granted are freedoms lost.  

Given your important work in local government, and the influence you have in your region, I wanted to write to introduce the work of the Free Speech Union.   

The New Zealand Free Speech Union is a registered trade union with a mission to fight for, protect, and expand New Zealanders’ rights for freedom of speech, of conscience, and of intellectual inquiry. We envision a flourishing New Zealand civil society that values and protects vigorous debate, dissenting ideas, and freedom of speech as cultural cornerstones. Our tens-of-thousands of supporters form a broad coalition of New Zealanders.

We are eager to work with you to ensure Kiwis' freedom of speech is protected. 

If you would like to hear more about our work, please come back to me and I’d love to share more about specific projects we’re working on, such as our campaign against arbitrary hate speech laws, standing with cancelled academics, or ensuring newspaper censorship is challenged.

In what other Union would you find Matt McCarten, Chris Trotter, Judith Collins, and David Seymour all as members?

Given the diversity of opinions and perspective in our Union, there is virtually nothing that we will all agree on apart from the fact that we should all have the right to express our opinions and beliefs peaceably. 

Freedom of speech is just as crucial at the Council level as it is in Parliament or our universities. 

With division and polarisation on the rise, leaders like yourself have a role to play in ensuring our society retains free speech as a cultural cornerstone. Whether it is labour union’s speaking up for worker’s rights or public commentators highlighting inconsistencies in progressive thinking; religious leaders leading their congregations in long held statements of faith or environmentalists standing for a liveable tomorrow, if we can’t have the conversation we can’t move forward together.      

That’s the scary thing- dialogue and speech across the country is being shut down. 

Would you stand with us in this important work to keep conversations open?

Please reach out if you would like to know more about our work, or if there is any help we can offer you in defence of free speech. 

Regards, 

Jonathan Ayling

Chief Executive  |  Free Speech Union  

Mob +64 21 842 215  |  Email [email protected]   

Free Speech Union (New Zealand) Incorporated  |  PO Box 10512, The Terrace, Wellington 6143  |  www.fsu.nz