It’s no secret today that tertiary institutions, especially educational training colleges, have increasingly become a hot-bed of cancel culture, no-platforming, and militant ideological conformity.

Unfortunately, the story I’m writing to tell you about of Dr Paul Crowhurst flew under the radar. But it’s one that needs telling. As we constantly show with our work, there is a very human cost to intolerance.

While the country was preoccupied with Covid lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and protests on the grounds of Parliament, Paul exercised his legally protected right to free speech by writing an op-ed in Stuff where he publicly questioned a radical new social initiative being taught to our kids in schools.

The article would sadly cost him a promising career at Massey University, simply because he gave voice to his genuine concerns.

It was only because Paul requested copies of all internal correspondence relating to his employment, as is his right under the Privacy Act, that the real picture emerged.  

In my opinion, Paul is one of this country’s best teachers. His op-ed in Stuff was motivated out of a duty of care as an educational leader to school students around the country. Yet his detractors quietly conspired to block not only any chance of his promotion, but any ongoing opportunity for employment at Massey University.

His case offers a textbook lesson in how self-appointed censors often work and how they punish dissenters who may dare to challenge their ideological agenda.

Paul describes the culture at Massey’s Institute of Education as suffering from “deep rot”.

He decided in the end not to pursue the matter legally (despite having clear evidence), but he has been willing to share his experiences with us to warn and inform people of a wider problem in NZ tertiary institutions.

Paul’s may be just one story, but it reflects the all-too-often unscrupulous modus operandi of an anti-free speech movement we are facing in universities, schools and workplaces around NZ.

Read Paul’s full story here.

Part of our role at the Free Speech Union is to give a voice back to people where others have tried to take it from them. Stories like Paul’s really matter. After speaking to him about his experience this week, I am convinced more than ever about how necessary our Speak Up! program is.

I’m part of the team that runs sessions in schools on critical thinking and the importance of free speech. It’s an honour to see kids wrestling with these ideas and it gives me hope for the future of our nation.

But there is so much still to be done if these attitudes are to translate into students’ adult lives, and into our institutions. Your contributions are vital for ensuring our work continues.

Thank you for making it possible.

Nick Hanne Education Partnership Manager Free Speech Union

PS. You can also listen to my recent conversation with Paul here.