Local government plays a crucial role in the daily lives of New Zealanders. From managing essential infrastructure and community services to shaping the character and future of our towns and cities, councils are the most immediate expression of democracy in action. These institutions determine how we live together, make collective decisions, and resolve differences in a pluralistic society.
Because of this, the freedom to speak openly, question decisions, and contribute to debate at the local level is fundamental. Free speech is not just a principle for Parliament or the courts—it is a cornerstone of democracy wherever decisions are made that affect citizens. Local councils are often the first arena where ordinary people encounter politics and governance. If robust debate is stifled here, the whole democratic tradition is weakened.
Unfortunately, local government has also become a frontline in the wider struggle for free expression. Attempts to silence councillors, cancel speakers, or marginalise dissenting voices threaten to erode accountability and undermine trust. That is why the Free Speech Union has consistently engaged with councils across New Zealand: defending the rights of citizens to be heard, supporting councillors who face pressure to conform, and challenging policies that chill open discussion.
This survey of candidates continues our work to ensure that free speech remains at the heart of local governance. By asking those who seek office to state their positions, we provide voters with transparency and reaffirm that the defence of free speech begins at the grassroots level.
Methodology
To assess how committed local government candidates are to upholding free speech, the Free Speech Union circulated a short survey to nominees standing in the 2025 elections. The survey asked candidates to state their views on the role of free expression in councils, the importance of protecting diverse viewpoints, and how they would respond when pressure is applied to silence debate.
Candidates were contacted in constituencies where electoral officers had publicly released candidate contact information. Where this information was not available, we were unable to extend an invitation. Contact was made primarily by email, and where possible we also followed up by text message to ensure candidates were aware of the opportunity to participate.
This initiative builds on the work we began in 2022, when we first published candidate responses ahead of local elections. Once again, our goal is not to prescribe a single political view, but to ensure that voters are informed about whether those seeking office are prepared to defend the rights of all citizens to speak freely.
Responses were collected online via SurveyMonkey, and the data presented in this report reflects the submissions we received during the survey period (open between 11 August and 25 August). Candidate names, their answers to each question, and summary statistics are included for transparency and accountability.
General Commentary
Taken together, the survey responses reveal both encouraging signs and ongoing areas of concern. A number of candidates expressed strong support for free expression as a democratic principle, acknowledging that councils must remain spaces where disagreement can be aired respectfully. Several highlighted the dangers of “cancel culture” at the local level, where unpopular views risk being silenced rather than debated.
At the same time, the survey also uncovered hesitancy among some candidates to commit to robust protections. Themes such as the balance between free speech and “harm,” or whether councils should regulate expression in public forums, remain contested. These debates echo wider national and global conversations, but they are felt most acutely in our local communities, where decisions are personal and visible.
Disclaimers
• Candidate responses to long-form questions are included without edit, including typos.
• Candidates standing for election whose contact information was not readily available publicly were unable to be invited to participate. Some councils chose not to publish this information, and therefore those candidates are not represented in the report.
• Jonathan Ayling, a contractor for the Free Speech Union, helped prepare this report. He is also a candidate in the local government election. Due steps were taken to ensure oversight of his work so that he gained no inappropriate benefit.
Thematic Commentary
(Qualitative & Quantitative)
1. Strong Endorsements of Free Speech (≈ 20%)
Nearly one in five candidates explicitly affirmed their commitment to free speech, describing it as the foundation of democracy and open governance. Many stressed that silencing debate breeds resentment, while open dialogue builds trust and cohesion.
2. Cancel Culture and Self-Censorship (≈ 4%)
A smaller but significant group raised concerns about “cancel culture” and the chilling effect of self-censorship. These candidates warned that individuals increasingly feel pressured to remain silent on controversial topics. One remarked: “The loss of the ability to say what needs to be said is damaging our democracy.”
3. Diversity and Managing Difference (≈ 3.6%)
A handful of candidates focused on cultural and ideological diversity. While many affirmed their ability to accommodate differing views, others worried that inclusion policies risk narrowing acceptable debate. This reflects ongoing national tensions around balancing inclusion with free expression.
4. Codes of Conduct and Regulation (≈ 0.4%)
Very few candidates explicitly mentioned council codes of conduct. However, those who did were clear that such frameworks, if misused, can stifle legitimate dissent under the guise of civility or “harm reduction.” This is a theme that warrants further monitoring, given past controversies in councils.
5. The Grassroots Frontline (≈ 23%)
The most common theme was recognition of councils as the frontline of democracy. Nearly a quarter of candidates tied free speech directly to the role of local government, emphasising that if councils cannot model robust debate, trust in the wider democratic system will erode.
Quantitative Analysis of Survey Ratings
In addition to open comments, candidates rated eight questions on a scale from 1–5. The results show overall strong support for free speech, with some variation across themes:
Q1 (Meeting Transparency):
Mean score 4.62, with 73% giving the highest score (5). Clear evidence of strong alignment with free speech principles.
Q2 (Public Art & Expression):
Mean score 3.89, more balanced responses with 26% rating “3.” Indicates uncertainty or divided opinion on this aspect.
Q3 (Lawful Speech on Council Property):
Mean score 4.32, with over 56% choosing “5.” Strong endorsement.
Q4 (Public Venues & Viewpoints):
Mean score 4.20, with 49% scoring “5.” Majority in favour but some hesitancy evident.
Q5 (Social Media Moderation):
Mean score 4.38, with nearly 60% at “5.” Strong support.
Q6 (Off-Duty Staff Expression):
Mean score 3.93, most balanced of all questions, with 19% rating only “2.” Suggests areas of doubt or complexity.
Q7 (Free-Speech Training):
Mean score 4.09, 45% rating “5.” General support but less emphatic.
Q8 (Hate Speech Laws):
Mean score 3.71, the lowest average, with 20% rating only “2.” Reveals real division and perhaps resistance to full endorsement of free speech protections in this context.
Key Insight: While candidates generally endorse free speech (especially in principle-focused questions), responses drop when the questions test application in more complex or controversial areas (e.g., balance with harm, codes of conduct, or practical implementation). This reflects the ongoing tension between rhetorical commitment to free speech and its practice under political and social pressure.
ASHBURTON DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Dolf Van Amersfoort
Councillor 37/40
Jeff Ryan Mayor 28/40
I believe I am capable to a high degree.
Multi culturalism can be somewhat pretentious. A close neutral stance should be taken when community leaders clash. However, there should be one rule book for all New Zealanders.
Very clear. I think very quickly. Racism
Cojocaru Leonard Councillor 28/40 very capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 8
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
AUCKLAND CITY
Karin Kerr
Councillor 40/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
This is a very sensitive issue which is creating a very divisive atmosphere between the Councils and the public. This must be prioritised and the difficult conversations had. Free speech is paramount in an effective and working environment.
The loss of the ability to say what needs to be said for fear of retaliation and backlash. We all beed to realise we are free to express opinions as long as they are not illegal, personal or derogatory
Nick Corlett
Local board Franklin Wairoa subdivision 39/40
Martin Lundqvist
Local board member 39/40
Ali Dahche
Councillor 39/40
Samuel Raymond
Mills
Councillor 39/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Oh, I agree with all so far but people like Brian TÄ maki and Azelex are a real problem For followers fanatical followers sometimes my phone says the wrong thing
Anti-gay people like Brian TÄ maki TÄ maki the mosque massacre and a redneck bigots
I am willing to have an open and civil discussion with any member of the community, even with people I disagree with.
Self-censorship. We need to ensure that people feel safe to express their opinions in public, and not feeling the need to curtail their own viewpoints.
Reasonably well
No worries whatsoever, differing views when shared respectfully facilitate productive discourse where consensus can usually be reached.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The culture of avoiding difficult, controversial or challenging discussions leading to self censorship
Attempts to silence differing political points of view, even though I do not agree with someone does not mean that the community should not hear from them if they wish inclusive of use of public spaces to promote this message.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
AUCKLAND CITY
Tremayne Thompson
Franklin Local Board
Member, Waiuku Subdivision 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I’m confident in bringing people with differing views together. I focus on listening, respecting all perspectives, and steering discussions toward solutions that benefit the whole community, even when conversations get passionate and heated.
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is the increasing fear of speaking openly on contentious issues due to the risk of social backlash or reputational harm. This discourages constructive debate and reduces the diversity of perspectives in local decisionmaking.
Lester Bryant Councillor 38/40
Very well prepared
Geoff Upson
Rodney local board (southern Kaipara subdivision) 38/40
Dene Green Councillor 38/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Moderate unhealthy comments
By closing down free speech we are choking off the ability of dialogue between opposite opinions. If people do not have the right to openly debate their ideas, they can never find a better opinion and they remain entrenched and biased. Forcing people to comply with a mandated set of opinions is pure Fascism. I deplore anyone that tries to mandate a state held opinion.
Getting ridiculed by council employees when I represent the views of the community and try to vote accordingly when allocating public money
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Limiting Free Speech leads to self imposed censorship
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
AUCKLAND CITY
Apulu Reece
Autagavaia
Local Board 37/40
Capable
Mark John Price
Local board member 36/40 Very confident
Peter Wakeman
Mayor 34/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel confident providing different points of view get their say
The fact that there’ a desire to squash speech one finds offensive; the simple fact that there’ a desire for it.
Being excluded from taking part in election Candidates debates. I view intelligence agency interference with emails as undermining democracy. Insufficient mechanisms for all types of Media complaints for better transparency and accountability e.g BSA. Media narratives rather than News with different points of view? Personally, from my own experience , the Ombudsman’ accountability appears to be totally inadequate. Office of the Ombudsman did not provide me with copies of previous correspondence even though they were advised my emails were hacked despite three requests from me. Proposed laws taking away taking away free speech without a constitution is unacceptable.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
AUCKLAND CITY
Morgan Luxton
Councillor 31/40
Danielle Grant
Councillor 27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
Very capable, because I listen first, and respect my community.
A small minority expressing clearly inappropriate messaging requiring others to censor them, this I think stifling free speech for everyone. It would be a perfect world where everyone has the right to express their views.
Misinformation, bias, lack of respect for others, a disproportionate focus on International issues when there are significant issues which are closer to home and that require our support.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
BAY OF PLENTY
REGIONAL COUNCIL
Stuart Crosby
Councillor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I am an experienced councilor who has facilitated many community meetings where people expressed differing views. I believe in the value of expressing differing views in a debate and decision-making process.
Mark Wassung Councillor 40/40
Neil Parker
Councillor 39/40
Daniel Harvey
Councillor 38/40
Chris KARAMEA
Insley
Councillor 38/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable. As Registered Architect I have to deal daily with managing differing views, looking at solutions, working together as a Team for the bigger vision.
Major Government policy change without any chance of individual participation
No problem with debating differences
Getting good local ideas and free speech to be heard by BOPRC. Suggesting an online, live platform that is digital for residents to share ideas for transport, land, water and air. People are often to scared by the process of presenting to Council.
People have been battered into submission so too scared to speak out on the blatant affirmative action policies around Maori and gender.
Very capable
Getting timely and accurate information from council to form an opinion to speak freely about
Very capable. This is normal in a well functioning democracy! The Treaty of Waitangi!
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
BAY OF PLENTY
REGIONAL COUNCIL
Ron Scott
Councillor 37/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
My day job as a coach, governance and strategy advisor to Boards requires me to use exactly those skills.
Council officers (ab)using their political and social views to shut down views they disagree with. Associated is that people seem to have lost the ability to disagree thoughtfully.
Sarah van der Boom
Councillor 37/40
Ash Hillis
Councillor 37/40
Roana Bennett
Councillor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Genuine collaboration relies on a diversity of people and perspectives, and so conflict is inevitable. Dealing with differences of opinions and varying goals with respect helps build trust and enables diverse groups and individuals to explore where their views differ, common ground and potential concessions. This is more productive discourse than combative discussions.
I believe that the single biggest free-speech issue we are facing in New Zealand is the tension between protecting free speech and managing social cohesion, misinformation and institutional accountability.
Incredibly capable. Free speech and subsequent differences of opinion are the backbone of democracy.
I am an experienced facilitator and have spent decades bringing people with disparate views around the table to focus on shared outcomes and making things happen despite different points of views.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Bad faith actors on both sides of the divide, stifling productive dialogue.
Abusive, aggressive behaviour that threatens people and property.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
BAY OF PLENTY
REGIONAL
COUNCIL
Dr Allan Iwi Te Whau Jr Councillor 32/40
Douglas Owens Councillor 32/40
Adrian Gault
Councillor 30/40
Kat Macmillan Councillor 27/40
Ansrew von Dadelszen
Councillor 26/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confidant Te Tiriti
I think I am capable in managing situations where people hold differing points of view and wish to debate issues
Lack of media coverage anywhere in Aotearoa
media using opinion piece journalism and sensational reporting , instead of reporting balanced, factual reporting so the reader can use critical thinking to come to their own conclusions.
It can be challenging but I’m versed at this and feel confident Racism and any trans rhetoric
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
There are much bigger issue for LG councillors to concentrate on. Efficiency and effectiveness is essential if we are to keep rates affordable.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
BAY OF PLENTY
REGIONAL COUNCIL
RAJMESH KUMAR
Regional councillor 13/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Diverse thought processes is s part of our drily lives and in my role as a councillor and shop owner I come across people with different views and perspectives. The important thing is to extract the best out of everyone and move forward.
That all are equals - yet there are preferential pathways for the entitled and chosen ones
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
BULLER DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Joshua Hingston
Other 40/40 Highly Capable
Paul Reynolds
Councillor 36/40 Very. Council ignoring majority public wishes.
Chris Russell
Mayor 37/40 Very capable Transparency - Local Government
Patrick O Dea
Councillor 36/40 I have extensive experience in this area Honesty
Jamie Cleine
Mayor 33/40 very capable, listen to understand.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Open & clear opportunities for free speech to be carried out
Mis and dis information spread among vulnerable communities
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
BULLER DISTRICT COUNCIL
Andrew Basher
Councillor 33/40
Dave Hingston Councillor
32/40
Lee Harris
DWC board
27/40
I feel confident that I can navigate differing views.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very. Noting some people speak legall
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 18
Very, will listen to all views
All words have consequence. Navigating whether a consequence is significant enough is the challenge
Balancing free speech rights with offensive inappropriate or oxygen thieves exploiting loopholes for their own agendas , talking so long and loud to drown out other peoples opportunity to speak
Free speech from people who have “researched” their opinions without actually cross-checking, reading peer reviews, properly understanding the discourse.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CARTERTON DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Grace Ayling
Councillor 40/40
John Futter
Councillor 37/40
Simon Peacock
Councillor 36/40
Steve Cretney Mayor 35/40
Lou Newman
Councillor 33/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Quite capable
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 19
Different standards for opinions that are unpopular
I think i’ll be ok with peoples differing opinions social media moderators exercising their view on posts
Very, I can accept that my views may not be others views and thats ok
Those who claim free speech rights but are unwilling to accept criticism themselves
Reasonably confident.
NZ European elected Councillors representing all cultures.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CARTERTON DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Stephen Foothead Councillor 31/40
All viewes should be heard. The last government’s changes & what the police have tried to install
Steve Gallon Councillor 30/40 Very capable Non truth
Jane Burns Councillor 24/40 Capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Te Ata Kura Councillor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
He huarahi kei te haere, Na tou rourou, Na toku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
Having everyone in one place to hear it
Meg Gordon Councillor 32/40
Question is too vague
Alex Walker Mayor 27/40 Very
Jenny Nelson-Smith Councillor 22/40
Not sure. Not a paid member of FSU but definitely get all the emails and keep up. This is an awful survey - but I support in as far as agreeing with the FSU
Assumption that a differing opinion means you are not being listened to
I am an experienced and confident facilitator of multiple perspectives. tempering & tolerance
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CENTRAL OTAGO
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Bill Sanders
Cromwell community board 40/40
PublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I haven’t yet but we will see
Stephen Carruth Councillor 39/40 Quite capable
Andrew Burns Councillor 36/40 Very
Mark Quinn Mayor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
We are all scared to have oppinions
The greatest challenge, in my view, to ‘freespeech’ is people not taking the time to research the subject under discussion and therefore avoid using their right to free speech to just repeat prejudical statements or ‘bumper-sticker statements’. While those things still comprise ‘free-speech’ in the broadest sense of the term, they do not (in my humble opinion) add anything of substance to the debate.
Ensuring all voices are heard not just the vocal minority
I have 40 years of rebuilding companies.. I an used to controversy Being blocked and not heard
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CENTRAL OTAGO
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Roger Browne Community Board 34/40 Very capable.
Gill Booth Councillor 32/40 Pretty capable.
Probably anything to do with questions around Iwi.
Dave George Councillor 31/40 I have learned over time... A sense of Personal Worth and courage.
People spreading disinformation on the basis that it is just free speech, or their opinion
Martin McPherson Councillor 30/40 Very
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT COUNCIL
Tamah Alley Mayor 27/40
Jayden Cromb Councillor 25/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
This is one of my key strengths, and I am happy to facilitate difficult conversations Social media
I personally have no issue dealing with it. But we live in a diverse society and do have to take into account how speech impacts others.
The idea you can say whatever you like without consequence. Everyone has a right to free speech but others have the right to be and feel safe. One person’s rights dont override another’s.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
CHRISTCHURCH
CITY COUNCIL
Evan Baker
Councillor & Community board 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I am commited 100% to open and free communication as per our bill of rights (Freedom of Expression) I have worked a very long time within my community and I absolutely respect everyone’s point of view equally. I am more than capable of handling differences of opinions.
Over the years our community has tried to speak up about very important issues mainly related to crime and safety, our current representatives for community board and the last labour MP did their best to silence myself and others in the community from speaking up about issues regarding the types of people & criminals plaguing our state houses in the area.
Joshua Keys Community Council Board 40/40
Terry Craze
Community board as well 40/40
Jason Middlemiss Community Board 39/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
I am confident bringing together differing community views, encouraging respectful discussion, and finding practical, commonsense solutions that work for everyone
Fearing the expression of differing opinions and pushing people out of social discourse will only deepen the divisions in an already fractured society.
Increasing police restrictions on peaceful protests & silencing dissent and limiting our right to be heard. Democracy needs open voices, not tighter controls. Especially centre right issues As it seems the lift can say whatever they want and get away with it
I am comfortable managing this as long as all parties remain civil and can agree to dissagree
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Shutting down or cancelling people legal speech that institutions and media decide they don’t like
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable
Josie Ogden Schroeder Community Board Member
37/40
35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Free speech not protected in workplaces
Very. It’s an endorsement of a healthy democracy. Wokeness.
I feel very capable. I think in general all views add to the conversation, and in a democracy all people have the same fundamental rights to their opinions and views. I also think that respect for others, and their views, is imperative in any constructive discussion or debate and this goes both ways. I would not be supportive of abuse or personal attacks based on political alignment, gender, ethnicity or serial.orientation etc and feel that there is sometimes a fine line between helpful free speech and antagonism which can be polarizing and unhelpful.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The biggest concern in my view is the way that mainstream media curate the news we hear and see. Conversely, the second priority concern is the prevalence of ‘fake news’ online which can distort truth particularly for young people.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
Lucy King Community Board 35/40
Mark Chirnside Councillor
Cody Cooper Community Board
35/40
35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
manage difference: Priority Concern
As Community Board Member I would not be managing other people’ views but trying to proportionately represent members of our neighbourhood to Council. The squeaky wheel gets the oil but proportionate means seeking views and sticking to a topic, in my stand its on where brothels are located.
My time in business has exposed me to a huge number of different cultures, communities and views, and I have a long track record of successfully navigating conflicts, resolving disputes and mediating between parties
I have experience navigating difficult conversations with both the public and Council staff, even in challenging situations such as being criticised for reporting too many potholes. I remain focused on facts, respectful communication, and common goals. I actively listen to differing perspectives, seek common ground, and work to turn disagreement into constructive outcomes that serve the community.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Brothels bylaw where all houses are venues now. It is difficult to speak out where big money and influence is involved.
Honestly just talking to each other, and facilitating conversations between people of different backgrounds, cultures and views. We don’t talk enough.
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is the difficulty some residents face in raising concerns without fear of dismissal or backlash from decision-makers. When people feel their voices will be ignored - or worse, punished (as I was when I reported “too many” potholes) - they are less likely to speak up, and we lose valuable perspectives that could improve outcomes for everyone.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH CITY
COUNCIL
Nathaniel Herz
Jardine Councillor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Greg Luxton Community Board 35/40
Thomas Erin Healey
Mayor 34/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very happy to do this! It’s an important part of a politician’s role. I go knock on doors and ask for the political views of constituents, so it’s on me to facilitate that conversation and not judge or condemn individuals off-hand.
I’m very concerned with the way staff brief new councillors, often warning them not to express strong views because it could lead to ‘predetermination’ in their voting. I consider this deeply undemocratic and will ignore all such advice. This is why I’m luke warm about the Q8 training idea - I don’t like the idea of any ‘expert’ coaching elected representatives about what to say. On my other non-5 answers: on public art, any art that council commissions will be chosen based on subjective aesthetic criteria, so I don’t really know what ‘censored’ means in this context - and if we’re commissioning, say, a mural to commemorate a disaster, we should avoid making it offensive. On hate speech laws: it’s not a topic I know much about so I remain neutral for now.
Listen to everyone and have free, open and honest conversations
Decisions being made without open and honest discussions with their constituents and ignoring constructive feedback.
As a Christian I may not agree with what some people say but I will stand for there right to say it
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I have felt that as a Christian that Christians get treated differently in the mental health services and our views are some time’s treated as a mentally ill
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH
CITY COUNCIL
Ali Jones
Councillor 34/40
Nikora Nitro
Mayor
Kelly Barber Councillor
33/40
PublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Not very effective at community board level.
I feel very capable in managing differing views
33/40 Very
Sam Yau
Councillor 33/40
Matt Clough
Community Board
32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Capable!
I am confident managing differing views by listening first, finding common ground, and keeping discussions respectful and focused on practical outcomes that work for the whole community.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The inability by many to be able to disagree, in a thoughtful and informed way; and the inability for many to engage in discussions without them turning into aggressive and attacking ‘put downs’ of people and opinions.
The News Media Uglies and Haters Clubs
Councils deciding who and who cannot hire/ speak in their faciliries.
Different Culture. Same comment but means different in different community, different culture. So Respect from the audience perspective is very important.
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is striking the balance between protecting people from genuine harm and ensuring we don’t silence robust, respectful debate on important issues.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH
CITY COUNCIL
Mike Gibbs
Community Board Member 32/40
Will Hall
Community Board 31/40
Raf Manji
Councillor 31/40
Tom Roud
Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
PublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
very capable
being able to say what we want
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
It’s getting harder, especially with shifting social norms and online vitriol spilling into face-to-face encounters. But I make it a priority to stay calm, listen carefully, and guide discussions toward a respectful and dignified outcome. My role is to ensure all voices are heard and that we find solutions that work for the community.
The biggest free-speech challenge is balancing open debate with respect. Online vitriol is increasingly spilling into our community, and it risks shutting people down rather than encouraging dialogue. The challenge is making sure all voices can be heard without fear, while keeping our discussions calm, constructive, and respectful.
Very capable. Contrary to some popular mythology, the left is very good at arguing pretty vociferously on all sorts of issues.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Perhaps a vague answer, but the steady erosion of civil society - and the corresponding erosion of space and platforms to actually express free speech - is a concern from my perspective.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH
CITY COUNCIL
Andrei Moore
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Councillor 31/40 Very capable
Taraia Brown Councillor 30/40
Craig Watson
Community Board 29/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
That’s democracy
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I’m proud to have led the charge in ensuring all our Community Board meetings are livestreamed and publicly accessible in 2021/2022. I believe our next step needs to be making voting records more accessible and easily accessed through Council channels. At present these are very hard to find.
In the Coastal Ward, the biggest free-speech challenge is ensuring every voice ” from longtime locals to our MÄ ori and migrant whÄ nau ” can be heard without fear of backlash or being dismissed. Too often, important conversations about social or affordable housing, climate resilience, or community safety are dominated by a small group, while others stay silent because they feel their views won’t be respected or acted on. I think free speech isn’t just the right to talk, it’ about the responsibility to create spaces where diverse voices are valued, listened to, and included in decision-making.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
CHRISTCHURCH
CITY COUNCIL
Dave Dunlay
Councillor
28/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Speaking your mind and afraid of backlash
Ethan Gullery
Councillor
22/40
K. Hodgins Community Board 20/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel quite capable. I have worked with many organizations over the world where polarized views were deeply imbedded and consensus needed to be reached.
In my view, the single biggest challenge to free speech isn’t regulation, but self-censorship born out of fear. People see the sheer anger in our political conversations and worry that any attempt to engage will result in them being personally targeted or piled on. The consequence is that nuanced views and goodfaith questions are disappearing from public life. This stifles our ability to build consensus and actually govern effectively.
Face to face discussion is always more productive and less toxic than online
Social media algorithms
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
DUNEDIN CITY
COUNCIL
Jo Galer
Councillor 40/40
I am extremely capable Fear
David Milne
Both mayor and councillor 39/40 Very capable and experienced at this. Unlawful censorship.
Hugh O’Neill
Councillor 38/40
Robert Hamlin
Councillor 38/40
Apprehensive - but willing to try
I have no problems wit this at all.
Bullying from those with own agendas i.e. rather than engage in polite exchange, the bully into silence those with different perespectives.
Identitity-based wokery - supporting personal, political and commercial opportunism.
Amanda McLean
OPCB 38/40 Very capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 33
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
That free speech is no longer.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL
Anthony Kenny Councillor 37/40
Doug Hall Councillor 36/40
Pamela Taylor
Mayor 36/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
manage difference:
Very confident
I am very capable of managing differing views by listening openly, respecting all perspectives, and focusing discussions on constructive solutions
Priority Concern
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The ability to have open discussions on racebased politics without being adversely labeled
Ensuring people feel free to speak openly while maintaining respect and safety in public discussion
The single biggest free-speech challenge facing Dunedin community is regulated speech, censorship, deplatforming, mis/disinformation, hate speech, calling people mentally disordered, people losing their employment based on their opinions, people losing their children based on their opinions, extreme views, the Courts, the Police, the Doctors, and online harm all endanger lives. There are strong conflicting public opinions regarding the COVID-19 bioweapon and chemo weapon injections, women being biological adult females, puberty blockers being chemical castration of vulnerable minors, the meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te Tiriti, shrinking the size of the Public Sector, taxes and debts.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL
Athol Bayne member 35/40
CouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
keep the peace and encourage the parties to write down issues to help oth sides see other sides issues and encourage acceptable compromise
Digital Rights/ copyright needs to be greatly reduced esp concerning private and limited minor commercial use (under $5000.00) current law you are deemed to be gulity and hearing only to decide size of fine etc copyright hold only has to say they think a violation has occured no proof need be offered
Donna Katae Community Board 34/40
Karl Hart Councillor 34/40
Restriction on expressing concern about harmful religious ideas and practices
John Chambers Councillor 33/40 Reasonably Non disclosure agreements
Rebecca Twemlow Councillor 33/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably capable and confident.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
In Dunedin for me the biggest free speech issue is the lack of transparency at Dunedin city council. Without open processes and honest communication, the public can not fully participate, be informed or hold leaders accountable.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL
Jules Radich
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Mayor 33/40 Quite capable
Lachlan Akers
Councillor 33/40 very
Andrew Simms
Mayor 30/40
Inflammatory free speech can be highly divisive and polarisation in our communities is a significant problem these days because inflammatory positions are taken and spread without constructive debate focused on resolution.
Freedom of discord on the internet. Oppressive privacy laws around the world and an increasing ‘big brother’ attitude from big tech companies are making the internet a less safe place to communicate and share ideas.
Forum must be available to allow all members of the community to express their views in a respectful and safe manner. All deliberations must be public unless there is a compelling reason otherwise. Transparency is the key factor in gaining trust.
Non-public meetings and secret reports
Mandy Mayhem
Both Mayor and council 27/40 Very capable
Andrew Whiley
Councillor 26/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
It is a struggle but I have coped. The language and behaviour is getting worse and more intense. There seems to be less respect for an opposing view and who ever has the loudest voice believe they have power to win.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
the lack of respect around opposing views.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
DUNEDIN CITY
COUNCIL
Duncan Eddy
West Harbour Community Board. 24/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Capable
Angry and violent people setting in play in a situation that shuts down safe and open debate.
Mickey Treadwell
Mayor 21/40
Evelyn Robertson
Councillor 17/40
Jen Olsen
Councillor 14/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very confident. I have experience participating in strategic decision-making as a member of an arts funding board, and as a director in a small business. I also have experience in consensus decision making within a political party. An enduring takeaway is that people are much happier to enter into a discussion after their point of view has been heard. When we frame our discussions as working together for a common goal (ie. the betterment of the city) and don’t take a factional approach to discussion, we can achieve a lot.
Extremely capable, I have experience in moderating diverse discussions in community groups and through my work as a kaiako and my volunteering as a community marshall I have extensive experience in de-esclation.
I will establish Citizens Assemblies to allow people to be informed, express their views and come to consensual decisions on issues that affect their daily lives.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
There is a raft of issues preventing workers from speaking up against their employers, particularly with the high levels of unemployment within the city, and because of the tightening of conditions placed on beneficiaries. Workers, particularly contractors, can easily have their lives upended if they lose favour with their employer. Even when punitive measures are illegal (many are not), the process of bringing a legal complaint against one’ employer is very costly, and usually unaffordable to people who are in precarious employment in the first place.
The rise of political violence from the right, especially violent attacks on children’s events and the online esclations of threats and harassment against minoritised speakers and communities.
Open and honest discussion about the climate and ecological emergency
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
DUNEDIN CITY
COUNCIL
Barbara Olah
West Harbour Community Board 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Somewhat capable - since Covid some topics have become triggering for some individuals and it is difficult to have a level headed discourse on these in certain situations.
Malcolm Anngow
Mosgiel and Taieri Community Board 29/40
Christine Garey Councillor 21/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very confident in handling different views over issues
A general lack of understanding about why free speech is such a crucial cornerstone of democracy and why suppressing it is a slippery slope to losing other democratic freedoms.
Civil order from all sides of the discussion
The abuse and hate speech currently prevalent is unacceptable Racism masquerading as ‘free speech’
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ENVIRONMENT
CANTERBURY
Lindon Boyce
Councillor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I absolutely believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, however with the exact same principles i dont actually have to agree with the.
The “Cancel Culture” mentality of a small minority of including Racially based political parties where if you dont agree with them you are automatically hateful and “Racist”
Toni Severin
Councillor 40/40
Ross Boswell
Councillor 39/40
David East
Councillor 37/40
John McLister
Councillor 36/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
All views should be welcome as you just dont know if a view may be helpful for the issue. However it the views become a personal attack on anyone they are not welcome. Attack the issue not the person.
People afraid to speak up about unelected councillors because it deem racists. It is about democracy we don’t have people running in council elections and the general public not voting.
Quite capable
The rise of “social media” which has allowed and encouraged damaging and illegal attacks to be made under a cloak of anonymity.
Quite capable
Being able to express an opinion without being labelled - e. Racist
Very capable - Free speech should be encouraged, as differing opinons can often lead to new insights
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
false information being presented as true
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ENVIRONMENT
CANTERBURY
Tane Apanui
Councillor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable. Respectful approaches and being firm on boundaries are key elements to facilitate nearly any conversation
People silencing opposing view points because they disagree
Cllr Joe Davies
Councillor 32/40
Ian Mackenzie
Councillor 32/40
John Faulkner
Councillor 29/40
Safely criticising Maori separatism
I have Chaired a process that brought significant viewpoints to the table successfully. Being actually heard
Nettles Lamont
Councillor 27/40 Capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ENVIRONMENT
CANTERBURY
Grant Edge Councillor 18/40
Frankie Karetai
Wood-Bodley Councillor 17/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Highly capable - I do this daily. Hate speech against diverse communities.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
ENVIRONMENT
SOUTHLAND
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Joshua Cumberland Councillor 40/40
David Rose Councillor 34/40
Maurice Rodway Councillor 22/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
If I had concerns about my ability to consider perspectives that I don’t necessarily agree with, then I wouldn’t be running for local office.
Self-censorship. Government doesn’t grant rights; we’re born with them. We only lose the right to freedom of expression when we lack the courage to speak the truth.
I will listen to all views which aides a productive way forward Lack of critical thinking to seek the facts
Moderately capable
Hate speech that generates ill will should be banned. We need to be kinder to one another.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
GORE DISTRICT
COUNCIL
gary mcintyre
Councillor 34/40
Mel Cupit
Councillor 32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
capable but their are idiots reporters getting both sides
Very capable - i am a good listener and experienced in dealing with various opinions, advocating for various viewpoints and reaching a productive outcome
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Probably being heard, feeling represented and confident that Council are listening to your views.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
GREATER WELLINGTON
REGIONAL COUNCIL
nigel elder Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Capabable and competent
Glenys Perkins Councillor 38/40
Mike Fisher
Councillor 35/40
Matt Shand Councillor 35/40
Grenville Gaskell
Councillor 34/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
The culture of avoiding challenging, difficult or controversial discussions that can result in self censorship.
Confident with facilitation skills Prejudice
Capable of listening to all sides and treating fairly
balanced coverage of issues so that all sides of issue are discussed and can be considered in a collegial way
As a journalist I believe strongly in freedom of speech along with accountability for those words.
Very, from my corporate experience. Re my response to question two - I have moderated my response based on the Nelson Art Galley issue where the NZ Flag was disrespected. There are limits and walking on our national flag is one of them.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The proposed code of conduct changes that see gagging of public officials and is being extended to include doctors, nurses and any government employee.
The ability to take about sensitive issues respectfully.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL
Sarah Free Councillor 34/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference:
Very capable, have managed lots of contentious discussions, eg cycleway planning and delivery
Priority Concern
The restriction of speech in legally hired venues and public places
Alice Claire Hurdle Councillor 33/40
I believe in respectful freedom of speech. I accept that there are various opinions and open conversation is the basis for a better society.
Omar Faruque Regional Council 29/40 I am happy about it.
Anonymous posts on Facebook. If you believe in something, put your name to it.
Constructive criticism is welcome, not manipulative speech of dehumanizing others
Belinda McFadgen Councillor 28/40
I see myself as pretty openminded and able to facilitate constructive debate over issues. I don’t do bad manners well though.
The inability of some people to stick to criticising the argument, instead of the person they don’t agree with.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL
Phil Rhodes Councillor 25
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Self described experts who only know half the relevant information about a topic and are quite ready to tell everyone a one sided story. This results in opinions and beliefs that less than the truth and have no use for anyone interested in becoming an informed citizen. For those who own the truth, it becomes very difficult to tell the story that provides people with a balanced view and knowledge and its too easy for myths to become the truth.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
GREY DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Jack O’Connor Councillor 30/40 Very comfortable
AI generated content that is becoming harder to detect across all forms of communication
Kaia Beal Councillor 30/40 Very Capable Misinformation
John Canning Councillor 12/40 Quite capable Wokeness, cancel culture.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
HASTINGS DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Jacqueline Supra Councillor 40/40
Derek NowellUsticke Councillor 38/40
Bert Lincoln Trustee of the Flaxmere Licensing Trust 36/40
Gareth Freeman (Gus) Councillor 34/40
Marcus Buddo Mayor 34/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable -
Being scared to voice opinions on subjects that are sensitive
I do not have any problems doing this
Being able to speak your mind on racial issues
I personally believe I know my Community well, and they know me
Mainly the fear of being called a racist
Capable
Getting access to true information
Very capable, and it is something I enjoy. When we had 150 people in a hall over the Waimarama Beach Access issue, deeply divided about 50/50, I facilitated the meeting and helped bring the community together to form a working group that came up with a solution that solved the issue.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The increase in self-censorship of people when expressing their own opinions in fear of backlash
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HASTINGS DISTRICT
COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Kellie Jessup
Councillor 34/40 Very capable To do this in unbiased safe forum
John Bennett
Councillor 33/40
I’m very open to hearing and relating to others opinions and positions. But I can not allow hate speech or racism to have a voice
Small minded people in positions of power. It needs a culture shift across a generation so we need to teach “your right” in schools before people have to find out in retrospect.
Henry Heke
Councillor 33/40
Rion Roben
Councillor 30/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I believe my capabilities to de-escalate and have civil conversations is strong.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
fear of backlash, lack of safe spaces, cultural silencing, online abuse, misinformation, political or institutional pressures - In our community, the biggest free-speech challenge is fear of speaking out about local government issues because people worry about reputational damage or retaliation. For MÄ ori in Hawke’ Bay, the biggest challenge is that Te Reo MÄ ori voices are underrepresented in public decision-making, which limits how freely we can express our worldview
The inability for society to allow others to hold views that counter their own without descending into character assassination. We don’t all have to get along, but we should respect the views of others so long as those views are not directed at keeping others down.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HASTINGS DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Damon Harvey Mayor 29/40
Bernard Hickey
Councillor 29/40
Pagen Goldstone
Councillor 25/40
Sarah Greening
Councillor 19/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 50
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I’m very capable as I have worked and experienced many different perspectives
More then happy to express my opinion Maori Wards
I think everyone is intitled to their own opinion and should feel they can express their own opinion without the fear of being ridiculed and shunned.
The biggest challenge is that rural voices often aren’t heard. People hold back from speaking up because they feel it won’t make a difference. We need to make sure everyone in our community feels listened to.
Very capable.
That Free Speech is relative to the speaker and the situation.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HAURAKI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Roman Jackson
Both Mayor & Councillor 25/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confident
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Defamation of character or character assassination
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
HAWKES BAY
REGIONAL COUNCIL
Marcus Ormond
Councillor 40/40
Jerf van Beek
Councillor 38/40
Very capable
With difficulty due to people showing that they feel offended.
Multi culture definitions being unclear. not all cultures are treated equal in local government policies
Syed Khurram Iqbal
Councillor 38/40 Managed nicely Discrimination
Keri Ropiha
Councillor 26/40
Very confident. To be in a public position you need to be prepared to facilitate the mood in the room with dignity and grace, not fuel the fire.
Misinformation overrides topic education
Tony Kuklinski
Councillor 39/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 52
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HAWKES BAY
REGIONAL COUNCIL
Kiri RangirangiHamlin
Councillor 32/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Having been ‘shirt-fronted’ in public meetings before I am confident that I have the personal strength to manage strong personalities. I also believe that you should be open to opposing views, in a nonviolent manner to ensure opinions can have integrity and not formed in vacuum.
Control of mainstream media and social media by large corporate interest,
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HORIZONS REGIONAL
COUNCIL
Gordon McKellar
Councillor 39/40 Okay
Daniel Fordyce Councillor 34/40
I feel generally capable with genuine sincerity LGBTQ+ ideology
Shareel Nand-Mishra Councillor 33/40 very capable Fear and being judged
John Girling
Councillor 32/40
Carl C Netzler
Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 54
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Totally. We have two ears and one mouth. Use them that way. Knowing the difference between fact and fiction.
Capable to discern privacy issues, and recognise “cancelling” - ‘playing the player instead of the ball’. (Agrees the issues, not the person.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Paid for governance members, and the executive transparency of deliverables.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HORIZONS REGIONAL COUNCIL
Sally Dryland
Councillor
26/40
Elijah Pue Councillor 16/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confident. Experienced in local role that required these skills. Farm plans, ute tax, mbovis, ets, ghg...
I feel fine because I value manaakitangathe way in which we engage with another as humans.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Biased media coverage. We need to recognise there are often more than one side to a discussion and ensure we have safe spaces to express these.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
That people incorrectly label hateful, unkind and often racist speech as “Free Speech”. I’m all for free speech, but not if it is unkind or hateful toward others.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
HOROWHENUA
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Sam Jennings Councillor 39/40
Susan Galea Community Board member 38/40
Judy Webby Councillor 37/40
Bruce Eccles Councillor 35/40
Catriona Finau
McKay Councillor 33/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confident in managing
CEOs curtaining elected member criticism of staff and organisation
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Continual chipping away at free speech
Worry about Political correctness
Voicing Opposition to local Iwi-Waitangi claims
A small number of vocal perspectives disproportionately drive Council decisionmaking
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HOROWHENUA
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Katrina MitchellKouttab
Councillor 26/40
My capability reflects the communities willingness to engage in discussions respectfully. I provide the platform and encourage the best possible behaviour, and empathy, good listening skills to understand. a commitment to the process, rather than the outcome.
Nola Fox
Councillor 19/40 moderate
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
rise of disinformation and misinformation and polarisation
racism due to lack of knowledge of NZ true history around colonalism
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HURUNUI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Barrie Nunn
Councillor 40/40 capable
Government overreach to control narrative
Tom Spooner
Councillor 40/40
Steve Hutt
Councillor 29/40
James Community board 29/40
Very capable.
Capable - and question 6 should be qualified - council employees can hold whatever views they wish but should be mindful of promoting views linked to their official role which should be apolitical & neutral.
Lack of consultation.
The closing down of honest debate where differing views are held.
Listen to their views
The minority voice is often the loudest
James Hyde
South ward community board 28/40 good, able to listen to different opinions
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 58
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
the minority voices sometimes drown out the majority
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HUTT CITY COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Chris Paul Councillor 38/40 Fully Capable
Council Corruption from Big Finance Sponsorship.
Suzanne levy Councillor 38/40 Fairly capable
The no debate position of some groups that has led to hysteria, wailing and gnashing of teeth!
Daniel Chrisp Community board 37/40
Brady Dyer Mayor 35/40 Very
The ability for people to disagree well. Too many people and politicians are “tribal” in their views, this does not promote civil discourse and only weakens democracy
Access to council documents and information, in accessible formats
Andrew Gavriel Councillor 32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Having an opinion which does not conform with a prevailing narrative
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
HUTT CITY COUNCIL
Chris Paul Councillor 40/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very Capable. Wokeness
Glenda Barratt Councillor 29/40
Tony Stallinger Councillor 29/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
Other than my community feeling as though open communication needs work, I feel the community feels it can have their say
Reasonably capable
Where is the line between acceptable free speech and prohibited speech
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
INVERCARGILL CITY
COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Noel J. Peterson Councillor 40/40 Fine - no problem.
Gordon Daniel McCrone Mayor 40/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Identify speech hazards, such as Privacy (Lexicon: Pry Vacy, meaning there is none. Prison: Pry Son meaning child no longer communicates with parent). Declare goal and intent at commencement of speech. Disclosure to mitigate deceit and betrayal, which are entry words to a heirarchy of words i.e. evil becomes worse when behaviour becomes wicked. Expletives to be identified. Etymology (Lexicon: Etm Ology). Avebury House, Christchurch, Aotearoa (New Zealand) newsletter section “Mind yer language”. Caution: Cool is an uncomfortable temperature; Wicked closely aligns with whipping the blood out of you for minor offences (such as swearing) refer source details ATF.Kiwi > World History . Manners ensure correct understanding and mitigate ignorance; indifference; apathetic; i.e. phrase: Taking someone for granted. Means their efforts go unappreciated. Do check spelling prior to publishing, preference United Kingdom English before U.S.A. English, as typo’s are more common in year 2025 Gregorian Calendar due to tapping on Smartphone keyboard and auto-correct misnomer, truely is auto-make-mistaker. When circumstances are dire fight with levity. I ask you all Please and Thank you. P.S. (Postscript) avoid Promise (Lexicon: Pro Miss) instead offer your word as guarentee. Akways challenge the status quo, means, the way things have always been done. Introspection means, why do behave. Intrinsic is paramount over extrinsic. Infiltration is offensive as true intent is hidden. Positive words and sentence structure and avoid contractions to parse words and true meaning correctly, for example (e.g.), i can’t wait, uses can not, should be positive structure, look forward to. Syllables are required Wednesday avoid pronounciation Wensday when speaking lazy or true bad intent. P.P.S. (Post Postscript) Genuinely thank you for reading, and i must always be challenged with public awareness. Now you are Aware, Be Aware, BEWARE. Further details should be referenced refer ATF.Kiwi > World History
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Ability to communicate with the wider community easily.
Website: Pay walls, LOL.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
INVERCARGILL CITY
COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Angela Newell Board member 36/40 Quite capable
Nathan Surendran
Councillor 34/40
Somewhat capable, as an engineer working in multi-disciplinary environments, I have a lot of experience synthesising a common objective from debate.
AI bring used to control a certain narrative that may be ambiguous
The biggest challenge is the way free speech is undermined by polarisation. People often feel they can’t voice their views without being attacked, which shuts down honest discussion. We need to protect the right to speak while fostering respectful debate so that differing views can be heard without fear or intimidation.
Grant Dermody
Councillor 32/40 capable
Alex Crackett
Mayor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel very capable in managing differing views and I see this as one of the most important skills in leadership. Over my years on Council, I’ve worked with people from across the political and social spectrum, often in high stakes situations. My approach is to ensure everyone feels heard, keep discussions grounded in facts and guide conversations toward constructive outcomes. Disagreement is inevitable, division is optional.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Free speech is the cornerstone of democracy. Laws that restrict it must be precise, proportionate and evidence based. I do not support expanding vague or ill defined ‘hate speech’ laws that risk criminalising legitimate debate, but I do support targeted measures that address real threats and incitement without undermining open discussion.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL
Stevey Chernishov Mayor 29/40
Tom Campbell
Mayor 27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Governance & Free Speech QUESTION 21: What is the single biggest free-speech issue facing our community? How can you make decisions about transparency, public art, personal expression & lawful speech in a public space? Should any lawful expressions & opinions be shared openly without contentbased restrictions? ANSWER: The biggest issue is that we don’t have a a vision of where our community is going. Just promoting liberal free-expression - a ‘decide who you want to be’ society doesn’t get results. The challenge here with free speech is that there are two layers. Layer 1: Freedom of expression. Layer 2: Values, morals & integrity. If we are expressing in a way that does not have progressive vision, if it is not based on love, uplifting & solutions focused then ultimately it may not contribute to the community in a constructive way. So, it’ not as simple as just ‘free expression for all’. We need to build a community that has love & a strategy at the forefront to build what is best for the people.
Tolerance of dissenting views
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
INVERCARGILL CITY
COUNCIL
Tony van der Lem Councillor 26/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I am comfortable in managing differing views I regard diversity as a plusin
Darren Ludlow Councillor 25/40 Very
Lisa TouMcNaughton Councillor 22/40
David Meades
Councillor 38/40
Ian Reeves
Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
Very capable, I’m always eager to hear other views and perspectives, as it’s the only way to find out if mine are actually incorrect
Access to good quality information on council programs
I feel very capable. I consider myself to be excellent in listening and problem solving.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
An understanding that freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence
Discussion around mana whenua representatives
People not really understanding the principles of free speech
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
KAIPARA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Nima Maleiki Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very Well as a Gp I encounter this situation everyday in my practice
The culture of avoiding difficult controversial questions leading to self censorship
Ted Howard Councillor 36/40
Confident, have been doing it in practice for 30 years.
The ability of AI systems to create content that looks authentic but is fundamentally flawed, often at multiple levels. Contrary to popular dogma it is cooperation across diverse trust networks that makes real complexity and real freedom possible. Freedom without responsibility is necessarily destructive and drives systems to some local minima on the available complexity landscape.
Ash Nayyar Mayor 31/40
Sufficiently capable
Fluoridated water
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MACKENZIE DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Elizabeth McKenzie
Mayor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I feel very capable of managing differing views in our community. Everyone should get their say in a civilised society, no topics should be taboo. The only thing I would limit is personal attacks and intimidating behaviour. All elected representatives need to set an example to politely but firmly disagree on things. Being passionate, but not personal.
The use of the terms ‘conspiracy’ and ‘misinformation’ to discount opposing views. All views should be considered and heard.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MANAWATU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Jerry Pickford
Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference:
Reasonably well
Priority Concern
Aaron McLeod Councillor 39/40
Adrian Phillips
Councillor 36/40
Colin Dyer
Feilding Ward 33/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably well
People censoring themselves from discussions that are challenging or controversial.
very confident
The restriction of people to have genuine discussions and debates due to difficult, controversial or challenging topics
Racist detentions, what defines Racist commentary, Pakeha for instance is used define white immigrants or settlers who do not identify as Pakeha, when debating Treaty issues a different opinion is not necessarily White Colonial, nor is Colonialism necessarily Europen of “White”, sad elements of our past should be open to debate and discussion not rewritten to fit a narrative by anyone.
An essential role which I fully endorse and respect discriminatory language focussed on Maori, Gay rights, women
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MANAWATU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Gail Marshall Councillor 23/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
very. I have been a principal of schools over 20 years Maori Wards
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MARLBOROUGH
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Malcolm Taylor Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable
Restricting access to groups that have opinions that some staff disagree with.
Dominique
Greenslade (Mrs) Councillor
36/40
Ben Stace Councillor
35/40
Greg Billington Councillor 35/40
Would give it a try
Very capable and open to discourse
Having the right to express yourself carefully
Council staff making decisions on allowing content to be shared
Confident
There isn’t one
Dominique
Greenslade Councillor 34/40 capable enough hate speech
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MARLBOROUGH
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Bob Watson
Councillor 33/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
When various parties involved are willing to engage and have dialogue a, positive outcome is possible. I would be happy to mediate such discourse even through what are sometimes difficult processes. Open dialogue is essential for the health of any community.
Public debate and what might be labeled rhetoric is actually good for a community in my view. Every individual should be able to express their personal views and beliefs , but these should also face scrutiny and challenge, that way we are better able to arrive at a point of insight into our collective reality.
John Hyndman
Councillor 32/40
Nyara Nyajena
Councillor 30/40
Cathie Bell
Councillor 26/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I strongly believe in free speech. I respect the right for others to hold views which differ from mine. I am happy to engage in a civil debate with anyone on any issue.
Censorship - especially by academic institutions and mainstream media.
Life will always have different perceptions about how we all view things
I think its relating to the water issues at the moment
I am open to hearing all views, and engaging with a wide range of people across the community. I am heavily involved in volunteer activity and already work across many perspectives.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
My community is pretty good at sharing its views!
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MASTERTON DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Jonathan Ayling
Masterton Trust Lands Trust 40/40 Very Capable
Rob Harvey
Councillor 38/40
Capable but would like to grow in this area
Bex Johnson Mayor 37/40 Very confident
Craig Bowyer Mayor 27/40 . .
An erosion in support for democracy.
Henriette Nagel
Councillor 25/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I am not aware of where free speech has been inhibited. I am sure I will see areas as I become less naive on this issue
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
People not being open minded and considerate enough people’s views that are different to their own.
Maori Wards
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
MASTERTON DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Chris
Peterson Councillor
25/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Am relatively easy going with people with opposing views
People not always stopping to think before they speak
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
MATAMATA PIAKO
Vincent Andersen
Councillor 40/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I’m all for open and robust debate Digital ID’s
Caleb John Ansell
Councillor 38/40
Andrew McGiven
Councillor 37/40
Quite capable.
I have done so before and had productive results come from these meetings
None of significant import.
The inability for most people to speak out about Treaty concerns and radical NZ history rewrites without being swamped by social media trolls and other bigots who clearly have something to gain from their particular political point of view
Mark Ball
Councillor 34/40 very
What is going on in UK
Wayne Aberhart
Councillor 23/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Groups who shout the loudest seem to be heard over those that are less vocally forceful
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
NAPIER CITY COUNCIL
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Terry Cornish Councillor 40/40 very capable pc rubbish
Iain Bradley Councillor 39/40
Greg “Grego” Mawson Councillor 39/40
Kirk Leonard Councillor 38/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
The suppression of free-speech by fear to speak out believing you will be branded something you are not.
This is what we do almost on the daily basis as elected members. I support lawful free speech and can manage differing views by encouraging respectful, balanced discussion and focusing on common ground while keeping debate productive.
The biggest challenge is that more people are treating opinions they don’t like as harmful, and pushing to limit speech based on personal offence rather than the law.
Very capable and open minded with different views from within our community.
Our residents of Napier not been heard is a challenge.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
NAPIER CITY COUNCIL
Louise Burnside
Councillor
35/40
Te Kira Lawrence Councillor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
There is a lot of tension around discussion about MÄ ori wards
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is fostering mutual respect and open-mindedness while encouraging open dialogue. Democracy depends on people feeling safe to share different points of view, even when they disagree. Ensuring conversations remain respectful and inclusive helps strengthen our community and allows diverse voices to be heard without fear or hostility.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
NELSON CITY COUNCIL
David North Councillor 40/40
Jeremy Matthews Councillor 39/40
Very capable Wealthy people
A willingness to listen first, is licence to then speak. Unfettered venom towards differing views
Chris Baillie Councillor 38/40 very capable Intolerance of left -leaning crusaders
James Hodgson Councillor 37/40
This is why I’m here.
Tilman Walk Councillor 34/40 Very, age helps ;-)
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
We so often degrade other’s humanity simply for holding a different point of view.
Patriachalic guys from the last century.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
NELSON CITY COUNCIL
Keith Palmer Councillor 34/40
Mike Nicholls Councillor 32/40
Dan Robinson Councillor 32/40
Lisa Austin Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very happy It has been part of every job I’ve had Bi est TV
Fairly capable Not listening to others point of view
Moderately capable
Decision transparency and accountability to ratepayers
Very Capable Cancel culture and distrust of legacy media
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
NELSON CITY COUNCIL
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Mayor 30/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Disagreement is healthy but we have a role in encouraging people not to be disagreeable. Being disagreeable should not be illegal. There is a very high bar for making something someone says unlawful. The best constraints on freedom of expression are through others calling it out when it is offensive not in banning it from being said.
Nigel Skeggs Councillor 29/40 Very Capable
Campbell Rollo
Councillor 25/40
My current experience as a city councillor has allowed me to listen to all views & find Balance approaching any type of vote.
I am a great believer in free speech but also in people having to be open about their identity. It is when people have to identify who they are.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Nelson’ biggest free speech challenge isn’t lack of platforms, it’s fear of backlash. Too many people feel silenced by polarisation and online hostility. We need to create a culture where everyone can speak up and be heard with respect.
Lack of transparency around council thinking & finances
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
OTAGO REGIONAL
COUNCIL
Robbie Byats
Councillor 39/40
Reasonably well
Hilary Calvert
Councillor 37/40 Capable
Michael Laws
Councillor 36/40 Very
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The culture of avoiding difficult, controversial or challenging discussions leading to self censorship.
Decisions made by central and local government behind closed doors without us knowing what advice they gave received
Being free to express an honesty held opinion
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL
James Cockle Councillor 34/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
We have become a very polarised society. I believe that all differing views should have space to be heard, however in these situations good facilitation is essential because in order to be excersised in practice participants need to feel safe to speak up and those who dominate th econverstaion need to be managed to enable all voices to be heard.
The single biggest challenge to free speech that I observe is the ability for money to act as a megaphone. If we want true free speech we will need an egalitarian society. Our social media platforms and mainstream media are bought and paid for by billionaires and they repeat what benefits their owners. This means we loose our right to ignore or to not listen because that’s been taken off us by the owner class. Free speech if in theory only, is a good as freedom to drink in a desert. As a member of the Radical Action Faction I support citizens assemblies where people come together to hear from experts and discuss teh important issues of the day. They then make recomendations which elected officials are expected to follow - its like a jury service for democracy.
Tim Mepham
Councillor 34/40 Competent Indifference
Phil Glassey
Councillor 31/40 Not that capable misinformation on social media
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL
Elliot Weir
Councillor 31/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable
Alex King Councillor 30/40
kate wilson Councillor 30/40
Sophia Leon de la Barra Councillor 30/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I am experienced in dealing with different viewpoints, and want to provide space for everyone in our community to express their point of view.
Collapse of local news outlets around the country and reliance on funding models that do not incentivize public interest
We live in a country where free speech is practiced and there are few challenges to individual expression. The biggest challenge of is the issue of access to a platform, which is mediated by commercial and institutional practice, often by outside parties. But this does not impact free speech itself, only the reach that a person might have. I do belive that we need to have civics education where people learn to celebrate a diversity of views.
Very, our role should be to get people to the table , to discuss and work out first where there is agreement and then what can’t be agreed - not to start by putting people into corners
Fear of being called out by anyone of a different view
Very capable. I am good at finding consensus in a group. Fake news
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
OTAGO REGIONAL
COUNCIL
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Ben Farrell Councillor 30/40 Very capable Ignorance
Carmen Hope Councillor 27/40
Andrew Noone Councillor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable providing have all the facts to manage those different views.
Rates, keeping rates down, as the everyday person is paying and it’ what we do with those rates we take from these everyday people. What are they getting value for money wise?
Had plenty of experience, feel I’m above average in managing differing views in our community. Play the ball not the man/person.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
OTOROHANGA
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Michael Woodward Councillor 28/40
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While I believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion. There is always a best time and place to display these views without having to offend others . If people choose to listen that’ fine but views should not have to be forced upon others .
Balance in what is reported . It would be great to have media giving us the actually events and not just their thoughts and slant on a topic. A neutral Fourth estate is important for democracy and free speech I believe
Maxine MorganWind
Rangiatea Maori Ward 25/40
Rodney Dow
Mayor 24/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Capable to a point provided views are not discriminatory
We are a multi-cultural community. All opinions/ views matter.
I think I am capable of listening.
No free-speech challenges facing our community that I am aware off.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PALMERSTON NORTH
CITY COUNCIL
Jackie Wheeler Councillor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I have extensive experience in managing diverse perspectives from various communities. I value differing opinions and understand how each unique experience contributes to better decision-making.
People not feeling that its safe to express their opinion. The belittling, abuse and name-calling can be very intimidating to people, and this in turn silences voices that have the right to be heard..
Hayden Fitzgerald Councillor 39/40
Zakk Rokkanno Councillor 38/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Differences in opinion is normal. All sides should be allowed to express their opinions in a lawful manner.
I have strong ideas for fair & positive balance
Judgement & hate attacks - Minority targeting AND minority over-emphasis
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Mark Arnott Councillor 37/40
I feel very capable in managing different views in our community, and I see that as one of the most important responsibilities of a councillor. On issues where opinions are strongly divided - like link later reserve or the Pierson Street changes - I make a point of listening carefully to all sides. That means reading every submission, attending community drop in sessions, and being present when residents want to speak. My role is to ensure everyone feels their voice is valued, and then help facilitate respectful, evidence based discussion at council. Even when not everyone agrees I believe we can still create outcomes that are balanced and in the long term interest of the city. The key is listening first, keeping the debate constructive, and being clear about how and why decisions are made.
The biggest free speech challenge is that many people hold back from speaking openly. Online or in community debates because they feed backlash, labels, or being shut down.
Kayne Dunlop Councillor 37/40
With my background I feel very comfortable in engaging in challenging discourse and doing so in a productive manner.
The unwillingness of some people to listen to those that have differing viewpoints from their own.
Karen Naylor
Councillor 35/40 Very well Racial / Treaty views
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PALMERSTON NORTH
CITY COUNCIL
Eric Judd
Councillor
34/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Moderately
external influencers trying to restrict FS
Glen Williams
Councillor 34/40
Very capable
Lew Findlay
Councillor
33/40 I have done it all my life
JACK KOH
Councillor 32/40
Atif Rahim
Councillor
32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Yes, I am capable of gathering all the differing views and analyse it’s values and cost. It must be a win, win situation
Ratepayers feel that they are not having their cost-of-living concerns heard, and want tighter management of rates
Threatening behaviour and threatening comments
Gay parade, LGBT and Maori Rights, 3 waters
Very confident Hate speech
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PALMERSTON NORTH
CITY COUNCIL
William Wood Councillor 32/40
Tobias Nash Councillor 31/40
Very capable.
I don’t see we are dancing any major issues at the moment, or within the last three years I have been an elected member. Always happy to discuss a concern if someone has one.
Confident.
Social division and the politicisation of the concept of free speech.
Richard Woolgar Councillor 29/40 Very capable community engagement
Vaughan Dennison
Councillor 26/40 Reasonable confident
Caleb Riddick
Mayor 24/40 Very capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 87
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I believe everyone has a right to free speech but that doesn’t mean you are exempt from consequences. If you’re speech is going to belittle another group or cause issues. Shut your yap
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PALMERSTON NORTH
CITY COUNCIL
Cameron Jenkins
Councillor
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
24/40 Very,
Rachel
Bowen
Councillor
19/40 very
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
“The biggest challenge is when free speech crosses the line into hate speech. Our community thrives on open discussion, but speech that targets, dehumanises, or incites harm against others isn’t debate ‘it’ abuse. Protecting free expression must never come at the expense of safety and dignity.”
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
PORIRUA CITY
COUNCIL
Brent Ching Councillor 40/40
Mike Duncan
Councillor 35/40
Yan zhang
Councillor 35/40
Kathleen Filo Mayor 34/40
Kylie Wihapi
Councillor 28/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I am confident in managing differing views and encourage differing views Maori ward binding poll
I’m always open to differing views. It’s how we learn and how we build community. A closed mind is like a library that refuses to update references
Very capable, I believe open dialogue, transparency, and respect are the foundation of community trust, and I am committed to facilitating constructive discussion
Highly capable
Managing different views and controlling are two different things. You can manage it without controlling the narrative.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hard to nail any one challenge but for me the online abuse that is so prevalent from people who have long ago closed their minds.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
The biggest challenge is ensuring that all voices in our diverse community ‘including ethnic minorities, the elderly, and people with disabilities’ are heard and respected. Too often, these groups feel left out of public debate. We need to create safe and open spaces for them to participate without fear of being silenced.
Anything to do with MÄori views and or opinion on MÄori wards.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
PORIRUA CITY
COUNCIL
Moze Galo
Councillor 27/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I value creating spaces where everyone feels heard and respected, even when views differ. I listen carefully, encourage open dialogue, and focus on finding common ground. My time on Council and in public service has shown me that respectful, constructive conversations can turn challenges into opportunities for stronger community outcomes.
The biggest free speech challenge in my community is making sure people feel safe to share their views without fear of backlash or being silenced. At times, voices from minority, youth, or grassroots communities are ignored or overlooked. We need to protect the right to speak openly while encouraging respectful dialogue that does not cross into personal attack or discrimination.
Rawinia Rimene
Parirua Maori Ward 25/40
Moira Lawler Councillor 23/40
Very capable
Very capable
We need hate speech legislation to provide a threshold for lawful free speech.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
QUEENSTOWN LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Linda Joll
Upper Clutha community board 40/40
Samuel “Q” Belk
Councillor 39/40
Samuel “Q” Belk Councillor 39/40
Glyn Lewers
Mayor 37/40
Aaron Cowie
Councillor 36/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable to inform share and assist in helping others to understand it’ ok to have a difference of opinion.
I believe in Good Governance and Transparency. I was a Licensed Independent Trustee (“LIT”) for seven years. It is an FMA governance role.
Transparency is key which we do NOT have in the QLDC
Fine. No problem with it.
I have worked with a diverse set of people and cultures and feel very comfortable hearing any and all views without prejudice
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Having an open interested diverse community rather than a judgemental closed approach to diversity.
Our Council (QLDC), while it has some wonderful Councillors, is characterized by bullying and intimidation (leadership) and a lack of transparency.
Standing Orders at Council to suppress dissent
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Encroachment of government within the digital space
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
QUEENSTOWN LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Melissa White Councillor 36/40 Very Capable.
Nicola King Councillor 34/40
Capable, but always room for improvement and learning
Rene Smith Councillor 34/40 Very capable
A major free-speech challenge is when the council or institutions don’t communicate openly. If people don’t have access to the full picture, their ability to speak meaningfully is undermined. We need more transparency so the community can make informed contributions rather than feeling left in the dark.
The ability for community members to speak their mind in a safe environment, knowing they are free to do so without their views being held against them.
Tim Manning Councillor 33/40 very unecessary threats made by some against free speech.
Gavin Bartlett Councillor 32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Nervous, as opposing views become more entrenched and the willingness to see another’s point of view diminishes.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Inaccurate information being disseminated as fact and fuelling distrust and abuse of public officials
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
QUEENSTOWN LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Yeverley McCarthy
Councillor 31/40
WIth years of governance behind me I realise that there is always a diversity of ideas and ideologies, by listening rather than talking we can often find a common ground to move forward.
Darren Rewi Mayor 29/40 Very capable Transparency
John Wellington Community Board 24/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Co Governance. we are all afraid to address the elephant in the room
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably confident
Poor Communication from Council
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
RANGITIKEI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Justin Adams Councillor 40/40
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As I am currently the Chair of the Hunterville Community Committee it is my role to facilitate discussion that sometimes have differing points of view, the best way toi do is is to actively listen and ask questions to understand each side and facilitate both sides into a shared decision. A shared decision isn’t always achievable but the critical part is allowing each side to have their say.
In my view the unspoken forbidden topics that must not be discussed are the biggest free speech challenges for the community in theRangitikei.
David Yates
Councillor 40/40
David Christison
Mayor/Councillor 38/40 No Problem
I believe that as long as your not abusive and you are as truthful You should be able to speak your mindful as you can be
Bryan Hastings
Councillor 35/40 No worries Lack of forum
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
RANGITIKEI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Sandra Field Councillor 33/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I feel very capable, on a case by case basis
People understanding not just the rights but the responsibilities that go with it
Melanie Pera
Taihape Community Board 20/40
Jeff Wong Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel confident in managing myself and my thoughts, and my reactions to others. You can only faciltate healthy dialogue if people want to listen.
Expectation versus reality, you can’t “expect”, things to change overnight, good things take time.
Reasonably capable
Who gets to set the thresholds of acceptability.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ROTORUA LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Brendan.davis
Councillor 40/40
Open and transparent council
Reynold Macpherson Councillor 40/40 Very, I have facilitated dozens of meetings.
Public-excluded meetings preventing accountabiity
Conan O’Brien Councillor 39/40 Very Capable
Inconsistency of opinions by Council Officials
Rachel Bidois
Rural Community Board 38/40
Robert Lee
Mayor and Councillor 38/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 96
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Being able to speak without fear of retribution or intimidation
No public forums allowed for committee meetings & public not allowed to bring signs into the Council Chamber.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ROTORUA LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Jenny Chapman Councillor 38/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable. I am able to listen to differing views, and respectfully debate the points.
That people are unsure what beliefs and opinions they are “allowed” to share. We need a culture where everyone can share their views - it is fundamental to effective democracy.
Don Paterson Mayor 37/40
Ryan Gray
Councillor 33/40
Neville Raethel
Councillor 33/40
Jared Adams
Councillor 32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Everyone is entitled to their personal views and are entitled to express any lawful opinions in our Community. to be expressed
Suppression of views contrary to those held by the establishment, that challenge the status quo. Stifling these views, limits the possibility of public debate and the potential for positive change.
Very - debate is integral to a functioning democratic society
Very capable
Very capable , and the more community input the better.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Community events were cancelled because of protestors who threatened speakers, so the Council were forced to cancel the event due to be held at a publicly owned facility - it should have gone ahead
Freedom of expression to many people think their view is the only view that everyone need to adhere to but everyone needs to have their say and under stand that others might not share there views and that that’ ok
The biggest free speech challenge is getting council to genuinely recognise and act on public feedback from consultations. Too often, community input feels like a box ticking exercise rather than a driver of decisions
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
ROTORUA LAKES
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Mariana Morrison
Councillor 32/40
Frank ‘The Tank’
Grapl
Councillor 31/40
Jason Monahan
Councillor 30/40
Very capable
deleting or hiding comments on Facebook or livestreams, by the Council can appear to be “controlling the narrative” rather than fostering open dialogue.
Capable enough
People afraid to speak up and say how they really feel
Reasonably well
The lack of listening by all parties
Merepeka RaukawaTait
Councillor 26/40 Very capable Hate speech
Pam Neilson
Councillor 19/40 Quite capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 98
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Misinformation
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
RUAPEHU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
John Chapman Councillor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I can’t objectively comment.
Emma Young Community Board 38/40 very capable
Gary Griffin-Chappel Councillor 38/40
Simon Hepi Maori Ward 31/40
Sophie Stockbridge Councillor 29/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel very capable of ensuring open and effect dialogue, where peoples views are heard and respected. You don’t have to agree, but courtesy and respect enables effective discourse.
The dialogue on MÄ ori Pakeha relationships in governance
Theat opinionated people are listened to ahead of facts
I feel capable I don’t believe there is any.
I am happy to represent my community at all times to the utmost in productive discourse.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Fear of repercussions on honest opionions
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
RUAPEHU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Weston Kirton Mayor 19/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Brenda Ralph Councillor 12/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confident
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Affordable rates
The recent overspend within our Council involving staff
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SELWYN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Samuel Wilshire
Councillor
40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable, given my roles in the community at present I’m already allowing this as anyone should, I’d support any discussion of a issue as long as it’s not threatening or harmful towards an individual, attack the issue not the people is a good mantra
When council claim criticism with no threats or abusive language is abusive, and the constant use of public excluded meetings to discuss public spent money! Council denying official information act requests and council staff being required to sign “don’t not bring any form of disrepute towards council” this mantra flows right to the top so staff can’t engage with senior management to make positive change without being punished or hindered for it. Transparency applies for the good news and the bad, it’ the public’ decision to make on which category the fact falls into
Gideon Pieters Board membercommunity board 40/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
social policing (is annoying)
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SELWYN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Zoran Rakovic
Councillor 38/40
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As an immigrant who’s built a life here, I know what it’s like to come from different perspectives and still work toward shared goals. In the Canterbury Earthquakes, I brought together over 500 familiesâ each with their own views and frustrationsâ to stand up to EQC and insurers. That took listening hard, cutting through noise, and uniting people around what mattered. I don’t shy away from disagreement; I make it productive. In council, I’ll do the same, give everyone a fair hearing, push for facts over spin, and turn debate into decisions that actually serve Selwyn.
The biggest free-speech challenge isn’t being stopped from talking — it’ the authorities’ habit of smiling, letting you speak, and then ignoring every word. Freedom of speech means little if those in power have trained themselves not to listen.
Paul Weggery
Councillor
37/40
Till Peters
Councillor 37/40
Errol Maffey
Councillor 36/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I’m a teacher so I have to deal with free speech issues all the time. The council not listening.
With years of experience in senior leadership positions, I am very capable in enabling and encouraging discourse, while keeping it fair and calm..
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Pervasive tracking and surveillance, online and offline, has a chilling and self-censoring effect, even for lawful speech and protest. Safeguarding encryption and freedom of speech by law is paramount.
The willingness of others to be able to debate on each others personal views, in a respectful manner. Not everyone will agree, however everyone should be able to be heard and discuss differing views.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SELWYN DISTRICT
COUNCIL
John Verry Councillor 36/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Lydia Gliddon Mayor 34/40
Elizabeth Mundt
Councillor
34/40
Alan Peacock
Malver Community Board Member 33/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable - focus on the issue not the person Selwyn District Council not providing relevant information for consultations
Very Capable. As a Councillor and chair of community groups, I regulary bring together people with differing views. My approach is to listen first, ensure everyone feels heard, and then work towards solutions that balance communineeds with fairness and transparency.
I appreciate hearing differing veiws, and enjoy finding common ground and solutions to problems. I do feel that it needs to not be emotionally abusive, however this is not something that I have encountered, and the bigger problem lies with defining what truly is emotional abuse, as an unhappy customer has every right to complain, and yet some may consider this abuse, which in turn stifles free speech.
Cmfortable as I recognise all vews should be respected, even if I don’t agree wth them.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The biggest free speech challenge is ensuring that community views are genuinely heard and not sidelined by Council processes. Too often, views are dismissed as inconvenient. We need to build a culture of open diaglogue where residents can express concerns without fear of being ignored or censored, while keeping discussion respectful an safe.
The biggest problem I see internally in councils is those that wish to play the ‘victim card’ intenionally to either stifle free speech, or to justify their actions and turn the focus away from their actions onto someone elses. Alarmingly LGNZ are capatilizing on this...are we genuinely unsafe, or are people using this grey area for their ability to gaslight opposing veiws?
The lack of democracy exhibited by our current council
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SELWYN DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Moneel Pratap Councillor 33/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable as I have the ability to have calm conversations between individuals
Sophie McInnes Councillor 32/40
Moneel Pratap- Your life is my life
Councillor 29/40
Barry Mackenzie
Councillor 28/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Productive discourse is always possible when participants are willing to listen and engage calmly. If that’s not the case, mediation is needed more than facilitation. I’m happy to take part either way, so long as exchanges remain constructive and progress is made - otherwise, the discussion might need to be staged over time,
I feel very capable in managing differing views. I listen first, seek common ground, and keep discussions respectful and constructive. Even when people strongly disagree, I believe productive discourse is possible if everyone feels heard. That’ the approach I will bring to council.
I have an open mind and am prepared to listen to all view points. If there is a better idea ro way of doing things, I am prepared to be convinced on the basis of fact.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Some individuals prioritise “keeping the peace” over allowing robust, even uncomfortable, public debate. Sometimes, lawful opinions are discouraged or quietly filtered out if they’re seen as too political, too critical of Council decisions, or likely to offend.
There are many in our community who see fit to post provocative content on social media via fake or anonymous profiles. Rather than encouraging open discussion, this creates tension and uncertainty, where the person/ people targeting others cannot be identified. If you wish to protect and exercise free speech, back yourself by doing so as yourself.
The biggest free-speech challenge is that many people feel silenced—worried about backlash or being dismissed. We need to create respectful spaces where everyone feels safe to share their views.
The choice to engage or not by individuals is the single most restarining factor. There are opportunities that are just not taken.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SELWYN DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Rhys Laraman
Councillor 28/40 Confident
Calvin Payne Councillor at Large 28/40
Joe Morris
Councillor 27/40
I feel confident managing differing views in my community by listening carefully, keeping conversations respectful, and focusing on common goals we can actually achieve
Consultation not being listened too!
The biggest free-speech challenge in my community is the increasing pressure to selfcensor online and in public discussions, where fear of social backlash or “cancel culture” discourages people from sharing honest opinions, even when expressed respectfully.
Ashwin Mani Councillor 26/40 manageable with more communication racial comments
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SOUTH WAIKATO
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Zed Latinovic
Mayor and councilor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I believe free expression is essential for a healthy community. Differing views should be welcomed, not shut down. My role as mayor would be to ensure everyone can speak without fear, then guide conversations toward practical outcomes that benefit our district
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is ensuring that all voices, even those with differing or unpopular views, can be heard without fear of being shut down or ignored. Too often, discussions on important local issues become polarized or personal, which discourages participation. We need to protect spaces for respectful, open dialogue where ideas can be debated constructively
Gordon Wilson
Councillor 40/40
Peter Schulte
Councillor 39/40
Frank McIsaac
Councillor 37/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I stongly support healthy debate so differing opinions are essential for that to take place
Our current Mayor and his supporters. Openly “punishes” thosde who disagree with him in Council.
I am a very strong advocate for free speech and even if I disagree I defend the right to say it
Experienced in consolidating opposing views as Chairperson/General Manager + Informed transparency
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCIL
Dave Shaw Councillor 37/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable. People are entitled to their views and should expect respect for sharing. I return they should deal respectfully with their opposition
Closed workshops in Council. Decisions made therein and merely ratified in the public meetings. Decisons made months before public submissions. Public submissions ignored or the data misinterpreted.
Fiona Van Lent
Tirau Community Board 35/40 quite confident
none
Rupert Watson Councillor 34/40
Michael Thomas Councillor 29/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
People should be able to think what they like and say what they think
I feel very capable, I would listen, understand each viewpoint, and then try and find common ground to build from that the majority is often being shut down because the minority groups take offense.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SOUTH WAIRARAPA DISTRICT COUNCIL
Ross Community board 39/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Confident
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The Ardern government’ division of races and class
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
SOUTHLAND DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Phil Scothern Councillor 40/40
Jaspreet Boparai Councillor 38/40 Confident in my abilities to to do.
I think adults choosing to self -censor is worrying.
Katie Allan Councillor 37/40 very
Josh Community board 37/40
Michael Kowalewski Community Board 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Self evaluation of constructive and destructive criticism
Code of conduct for elected members
I’m sure I’ll handle different views, I will hear everybody out, & if they are stupid or “bought” I will happily convey that to them.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Disengagement, due to differing opinions not being heard by those in politics/parliment
Challenging an alternative to climate change . But challenging or discussing any subject has been problematic if some people think differently to the said narrative 🤔
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
SOUTHLAND DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Matt Wilson
Councillor
Melanie McIntyre
Community Board
35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Right on...
Glen Goodall
Community board
35/40
31/40
Rob Scott
Mayor
Grant McFelin
Community board
29/40
27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I’m capable to keep my opinion out when it bones to being professional
The growing inability to listen to subtext
The shutting down of any opinion that is different from the media narrative.
I feel very connected to my community, it is good to have different views and people need to be open to hearing what others have to say/think confusion over accuracy of information
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Views on treaty principles
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
SOUTHLAND DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Amanda Reedy Community Board 26/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Reasonably capable, everyone needs a chance to speak their mind but their views also need to guided to be factual rather than emotive and respect differing opinions and perspectives so common ground and understanding can be found. and
Allowing culturally diverse perspectives to be heard and respected by the majority.
Monique van Rensburg Community Board 23/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Highly capable
Misinformation
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TARARUA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Evan Matthew
Nattrass
Mayor 39/40
David Smith
Community Board 36/40
Ethan Hindry
Councillor 35/40
Keshaan Te Waaka
Councillor 34/40
Mark Watson
Councillor 31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
PublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very, as I have had experience in bringing very diverse groups to a consensus.
The refusal to allow differing opinions to the “official” line.
Fairly capable
Same as anywhere, the fact that some people think speech should only be free if they agree with it
Capable
As a person who has spent alot of my tine at marae, differing views is what the paepae is made for. Tikanga teach me how to facilitate productive discource over these issues.
At the moment, I’d say attacking race and ethnicity is way too common.
I feel extremely capable, I relate well with all demographics and cultures, I’m always prepared to listen to both sides of a discussion and mediate accordingly.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I would say social media is of great concern. Although it allows all of us to have a voice and raise concerns within our community at can also become divisive and can lead to bullying and community members feeling isolated within their own communities.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TARARUA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Susan Lyford Councillor 28/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
This is an area where gaining experience would be beneficial in building capabilities.
Alison Amboy Councillor 30/40
Trev Moore Councillor 27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
As a business owner I have met people from all walks of life. I understand the different views and options people may have, I believe I can manage this effectively by open, honest communication and korero. I believe everyone has the freedom to speak their truth and so I want to be able to listen to people even if their view differ from mine.
I feel very confident in my abilities to facilitate productive resolutions between opposing points of view.
Respecting various points of view while ensuring correct information is going into the public arena.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I believe it’ through online censorship abojt things that may seem controversial. Whether it’ on council pages or community groups people who do not agree with status quo are shut down or reported.
The Maori Ward.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TASMAN DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Richard Osmaston
Mayor 37/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Reasonably.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The dominance of money. We’re promoting a future society beyond money and all its distortions and exploitation.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TAUPO DISTRICT
COUNCIL
John Funnell
Mayor 38/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
That is what the job of mayor requires, there will be challanges for sure Council
John Funnell
Mayor 38/40
Zane Cozens
Mayor 37/40
Ann Tweedie Councillor 36/40
Kevin Taylor
Mayor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Can be a challenge at times in this district, but we will find a solution
Our council has made decisions that have gone against free speech
Very confident. All voices and all views should be heard. It’ through dialogue that we advance as communities. Extreme activism
I believe everybody should have a right to self expression and if needed i would voice those concerns in Counxil
Currently Public Submissions at our Council fall on deaf ears, they sit and listen but do nothing to sort the issue
Very comfortable and happy to apply a principles based approach.
Polarisation of views around race related issues and the apparent unwillingness of some to engage in open dialogue.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TAUPO DISTRICT
COUNCIL
David Freeman
Councillor 34/40 Very Capable JMA
David Freeman
Councillor 33/40 Confident
Duncan Campbell
Councillor 33/40
Most people fail to nderstand the implications to be honest
Anything to do with Maori
David Trewavas
Mayor 28/40
Yvonne Westerman
Councillor 25/40 very capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Censorship by unelected and unaccountable persons including Council staff and social media moderators.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
False statements, sometimes driven by Ai or lack of information or purely racist
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
TAUPO DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Katrin
Wilson
Councillor
24/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Quite capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate speech and threats of violence against specific groups in the community
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TIMARU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
John Bolt
Councillor
Jan Finlayson Geraldine
Helen Davidson Board
Ethan Richardson Councillor
Ian Hanley Councillor
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Absolutely capable. So long as you begin every converstaion with an assumption of good faith, managing different views isn’t a difficult task at all.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Censorship of individual viewpoints. All views must be listened to and respected then debated if you want to call your community/country a democracy. It doesn’t matter the issue
Growing decline in ability to discuss topics dispassionately and thoroughly. There’s increasing tendency to take others’ opinions personally and emotionally, and to censor self and others.
Extreme foul language used in art or
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
TIMARU DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Ian Hanley
Councillor 36/40
I think listening to a wide range of opinions shapes your own
Jason McDouall
Councillor 33/40 Quite
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Listening and attending to others views especially if they don’t appear to be in line with your own views.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
UPPER HUTT CITY
COUNCIL
Kylie McKenna
Councillor 39/40
I feel I could learn to work with people on these issues
Hellen Swales
Mayor 39/40 Very Capable
David DJ
McNicholas
Councillor 39/40 Very Capable
wayneguppy
Mayor 37/40 very capable
Ramil Adhikari
Councillor 37/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel confident in engaging with differing views respectfully, drawing on my background as a public health professional and community advocate. Facilitating dialogue, listening with empathy, and finding common ground are essential for progress.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I feel there isn’t enough transparency about decisions being made at council level and the community aren’t aware of how they can interact during these proccesses.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Community feeling safe that they can express an opinon with backlash
Pushing back against claims of racism.
The biggest free-speech challenge in our community is ensuring that diverse voices, especially those of marginalised groups are heard and respected without being drowned out by louder or more dominant narratives. True free speech means enabling everyone to participate safely and meaningfully.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
UPPER HUTT CITY
COUNCIL
Wade R Cashmore
Councillor 35/40 Quite Capable
Michael J Anderson
Councillor 34/40
Daniel Welch
Councillor 33/40
Closed door council meetings
Reasonably capable. Thought policing by those in power.
Very, I’m open to all views regardless of their origin.
Cancel culture and backlash. It can be difficult to debate ideas openly and honestly in the modern age without being shouted down by an opposing voice.
Angela McLeod
Both Mayor and Councillor 30/40 Very capable.
Everyone understanding what free speech actually is.
Brett Thomson
Councillor 30/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern 121
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably capable but there would be room for improvement..
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
People are giving up their right to communicate which is impacting our social cohesion and discourse.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WAIKATO DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Peter Mayall Councillor
39/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
My career is based around facilitating board meetings, you must listen and seek to understand and be constructive in why you stand by a differing view.
The cancel culture of for or against rather than allowing difficult, controversial or challenging discussions - instead we get self-censorship.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Gordon Malcolm Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference:
Priority Concern
Wayne Linton Councillor 38/40
James Bourke Councillor 36/40
Mathew Potter
Community BoardWoodend-Sefton 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I’m comfortable with managing different viewpoints, everyone has the right to have differing views and beliefs. The problems arise when one’s views are forced on others. I have been involved in many community situations where positive outcomes were achieved from groups of different points of view.
Councils ability to have private meetings that exclude the public.
A simple process for interaction and connection with councillors to express there views.
Capable, it is a requirement of directorships and business roles I have held/hold.
Legislation around speech restrictions.
I like to hear all sides of any story. Where I have frustration is either side not allowing the other to have their opinion.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The growing movement of shutting down an opposing view. All sides deserve the right to their view and to be heard. Doesnt mean you have to agree, but have the decency to listen and try to understand why they may see things in a different way to you.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Nathan Atkins Councillor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable.
Self censorship due to fear of backlash, our priority of being kind over honest.
Robbie Brine
Councillor 35/40 Very Misinformation
Brent Cairns Councillor 34/40
In the paast 12 months I attended 1152 meetings and events, actively involved in the community and connected means I get to speak to a very wide range of people and make decisions that reflect benefits to the majority
Disinformation - misxing facts with false information with the clear intent to mislead people
Natalie Leary Councillor 34/40 I do this on a daily bases. Social Media
Damon Hurley Community Board 34/40 The reaction to the abuse of it
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Pau williams Mayor 32/40 Ok
Bruce McLaren Councillor 31/40
Philip Redmond Councillor 29/40
Henrietta Carroll Councillor 25/40
Matt James Councillor 22/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable. As a Restorative Justice Facilitator and Justice of the Peace I work very closely with people from every demographic, ethnicity and orientation.
Competent
Very capable.
Capable
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The local papers are in control and print only what they think
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
People who are intolerant of those whose views, beliefs and appearance do not match their own.
Misinformation posted on social media
None that I am aware of.
Misinformation from unqualified sources
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Henrietta
Carroll Community board member 20/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Reasonably capable but will depend on knowledge of topic
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIMATE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Brent Percy
Councillor 40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I am happy to listen to anybodies views on any subject and will analyze what they say and then make my thought clear on how I feel about it, wether they agree or dissagree with me is their perogative.
The ability of the elected councilors to have contact with council employees, the CEO doesn’t allow it and shouls I get elected I will be pushing to get open lines of contact to all employees.
Shane Gregoran Councillor 38/40
Peter Paterson Councillor 35/40
Rick Stevens
Mayor 37/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I believe constructive conversation is at the heart of a healthy community. I’m comfortable engaging with people whose views differ from my own and making sure everyone feels heard, even when we don’t agree. My approach is to listen first, ask clarifying questions, and focus on the shared goals we all have for our district. I work to create an environment where debate can be robust but respectful, and where the outcome is better understanding and, ideally, solutions that reflect the community’ diverse perspectives.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
“Political correctness” and “overly sensitive egos”
The right to free speech is not consistent
Some people take click bait headlines or incomplete information as fact. Once they hear an answer whether it supports or challenges their view it can be difficult to shift that perception which makes open fact based discussion harder to achieve.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIMATE DISTRICT COUNCIL
John Begg Councillor
29/40
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Comfortable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Social media with people pushing agendas based on misinformation and not wanting to know the whole truth
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIPA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Stewart Dromgool Community board. 40/40
Gerda Venter Community board 40/40
Gerda Venter Community board
40/40
Stuart Hylton Councillor 39/40
Hope Spooner Councillor 37/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel I am capable of managing differing views. Censorship.
Very capable
That normal thoughts and opinions get cancelled
Very capable
Reasonable well
Very capable
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Council not being transparent and cancelling people with different opinions
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
The culture of avoiding difficult and challenging discussions leading to self censorship
Council censorship
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WAIPA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Roger Gordon Councillor 35/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Somewhat compromised when it comes to discourse against a one NZ
Stating views contrary to some factions and being accused of being racist
Mitchell Jordan
Cambridge Community Board
James Slyfield Community board
34/40
I am someone who loves hearing different views and will always give people the benefit of doubt.
That if we say something that people disagree then you are effectively “cancelled”
Karla Lugatiman Councillor
33/40
Pip Kempthorne Councillor
33/40
Capable based on my background in healthcare, education, business, finance, ministry and community leadership.
32/40 very
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Not having enough resources, training and support on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Information transparency
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIPA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Graham Jull Councillor 31/40
Graeme Allen Community Board member
Very comfortable to listen to all views and suport the majority community concensus. Balanced communications
31/40 Capable
Lou Brown Councillor
30/40 Comfortable
Dave Marinkovich Councillor 30/40
Hone kopa
Ward councillor
Very capable provided the people sharing differing views are also open to listening.
28/40 Capable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Being able to express a personal opinion without receiving accusatory retorts
Open governance decision process
To allow for ease of free speech and community feedback to council I would like to see commenting available on the councils social media platforms.
Who telling the truth
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAIPA DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Charlotte
Cambridge Community Board 24/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Capable
Clare St Pierre
Both Mayor and Councillor 24/40
Shane Walsh Councillor 9/40
Yvonne Waho
Maori Ward 4/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel I’m capable and would also seek advice to assist me
That all voices are heard, not just the loudest or most strident ones so that democratic principles are adhered to
Capable Race relations
I’m confident in listening to diverse views, ensuring everyone is heard, and keeping korero respectful and focused on solutions, even when opinions differ.
Ensuring M_ori voices are genuinely heard in major decisions. Fast changes and limited consultation risk undermining Treaty partnership and stopping genuine, informed k_rero with our communities.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAITAKI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very comfortable, but I expect all sides to remain respectful.
Council’s use of court action that can’t be talked about, for example in planning. I will also be interested in where the threshold for public excluded is.
Too easy. I find it interesting. Fear
I’m in business, so I have lived that daily for 30 years. No problem at all.
The minority that seems to have he biggest voice, shutting down the majority’s views
It would be a requirement to listen to different views as often opinions are changed after hearing other perspectives on issues
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
No voice at this time I hope to change that and in a Rate payers group
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAITAKI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Clifford Day
Community board 37/40
Richard Vinbrux
Councillor 35/40
Mark Townsend
Councillor 33/40
Kelli Williams
Mayor 27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Listen to All and reflect the views. People expressing there views in public
Having been on a civic trust board for a decade, I think I can certainly handle that..
Very capable
Very
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
This is globally applicable, as social media replaces news channels more and more, their power to suppress opinion is already far greater than those of single states.
In Waitaki, the biggest free-speech challenge is ensuring open, respectful debate on local issues without fear of personal attacks or being shut down. We need to create safe spaces for diverse views, so residents feel heard and can participate fully in shaping our district’ future.
People confusing the right to free speech, with the right to say absolutely anything they want.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WAITAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL
Courtney Linwood
Councillor
27/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I see differing views in our community as a strength, they show that people care and are engaged. My role is to create spaces where those differences can be voiced respectfully, listened to with an open mind, and turned into constructive action. I focus on asking good questions, finding common ground, and ensuring that everyone feels heard, even if we don’t all agree.
Our biggest free speech challenge is keeping conversations open and respectful in an age where misinformation spreads fast and polarisation shuts people down
John Clements trustee 22/40
Jim Hopkins Councillor 28/40
Prepared to look at both sides That the majority dont express there veiws
Reasonably capabler, although increasingly those with polemic points to make are either headline hunting or not willing to moderate a chosen position. In some instances, with some issues, I fee l this has diminished the prospect of facilitating, let alone achieving productive discourse.
Nationwide, there appears to be a general reluctance to openly discuss and debate some of our fundamental social issues and concerns. This isn’t helped by an apparent media unwillingness to enable considered debate on these matters - e.g. climate change - or because those same media outlets have taken a position on the issue in question and won’t contemplate challenge to that point of view.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WAITOMO DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Nichola Painter Councillor 36/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
The key to productive discourse is creating a respectful and open environment where all voices can be heard, even when opinions differ strongly.
John Robertson Mayor 36/40
Isaiah Wallace Councillor 28/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
No problem at all - totally comfortable
There is growing pressure to silence voices that express unpopular or controversial opinions, often in the name of preventing offense or harm. This a culture of self-censorship and limit healthy debate.
I would listen respectfully, encourage constructive debate, and ensure all voices are heard, while maintaining community safety and inclusivity.
Not aware of such challenges in the King Country
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Balancing the right to express opinions with preventing harm, harassment, and misinformation in a diverse community.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WELLINGTON CITY
COUNCIL
Dan Milward
Councillor
40/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I have experience managing people through running my own business. And would welcome additional training on freespeech principles and public forum law to enhance my capability.
The rhetoric, violence, and public shaming of people.
Sheila Julian Councillor 40/40
Luke Kuggeleijn Councillor 39/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Somewhat
Any criticism of the Covid-19 response
I am very confident in my ability to manage and respect the views of the community
My ward historically has been quite left leaning. So expressing opinions that don’t necessarily align with the status quo can often times be met with hate or resentment. While there is nothing that is legally preventing expression of less popular opinions, many people prefer to keep their views to themselves in order to not start heated discourse.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL
Ray Chung
Mayor and Councillor 39/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I consider it one of my strengths that I actively seek out and enjoy hearing the differing opinions, issues and viewpoints of communities and individuals. I do this because I believe the best ideas, solutions and consensus comes from hearing and discussing the broadest range of opinions and ideas. My role is to represent the interests of the people of Wellington and to deliver the essential services that they require, not to push personal or political ideologies.
The silencing of legitimate debate by falsely accusing people with differing opinions of being racists, misogynists, homophobics, and other isolating name calling. This is sadly leading to a loss of creativity and expansive thinking, as people are bullied into limited group think and self-censorship.
Mark Flynn
Councillor 38/40 Capable
If speech goes outside of an official narrative it is shutdown with an ad hominem attack. Rather having a discussion with facts or evidence based approach.
Tony De Lorenzo Councillor 37/40
Capable. I have had some experience in this.
The abuse and hate towrads people differing points of view.
Georgia Freeman
Tawa community board 34/40 Fairly good
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Balancing cancel culture with the ability to hear and understand perspectives different from your own, while continuing to respect and accept the people who hold them.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL
Te Paea Paringatai
Councillor 33/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Balancing the right to free expression with the need for inclusive, respectful spaces. Ensuring speech is not misused to spread disinformation or cause harm, particularly to MÄ ori and other vulnerable groups, remains the biggest challenge.
Nicola Young Councillor 32/40
Rob Goulden ED JP MBA
Mayor 32/40
Diane Calvert
Mayor 32/40
Paula Muollo
Councillor 32/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably capable Discussions around gender; Palestine & Israel.
I feel I am a good communicator, problem solver, can listen to robust discussion, gather the facts and present those. I feel capable of facilitating productive discourse over differing views.
People in the community faling to be consulted with in an open and transparent way by Council
Very capable as I have to manage this over the nine years I have been on Council
Enabling different views to be expressed in a polite debate
I feel very capable and have been in management where I have managed 85 staff at a hotel and I feel that I am open to listening to everyoneâ views and can manage discourse well.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
I feel that we all have a democratic voice and the media only represent one side all the time which I believe is not a democracy - I want more democracy and less bureaucracy!
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WELLINGTON CITY
COUNCIL
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Andrea Compton
Councillor 30/40 Capable
When the silent majority speak, and they are shouted down from a loud minority
Karl Tiefenbacher Mayor 29/40 Very
Chris Calvi-Freeman
Councillor 29/40
John Apanowicz
Councillor 27/40
Very experienced, emphatic and capable
Limitations on Councilors ability to challenge council agendas
The need to balance the public’s right to free speech against the need to moderate hate speech and prevent radicalisation of marginalised or susceptible individuals.
Very well because I do it now as an elected representative Social media
Michael petrie
Councillor 20/40 Comfortable
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WELLINGTON CITY
COUNCIL
Josh Harford Mayor 12/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Very capable. It will not be legal to criticise the Silly Hat Party.
That people are freely able to criticise the Silly Hat Party.
Andrew Little Mayor 0/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The questions ignore the breadth of the law we currently have to protect free speech and to protect the public from incitement to violence. The only thing I would say is I stand by the fundamental principle of the rule of law and the duty of public organisations and officials to adhere to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, the Human Rights Act 1993, the Privacy Act 2020 and the extensive case law in the civil, criminal, family and employment jurisdictions which protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of movement and limitations on these which are justified in a free and democratic society.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Tracey Coxhead Councillor 40/40
Margaret MurrayBenge
Mayor and Kaimai ward councilor
39/40
John Bowden
Councillor
38/40
Andy Earl
Councillor 37/40
James Denyer
Mayor 36/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
CouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I am reasonably comfortable
Expressing a counter view on anything that is not the view of the majority of Council staff and elected members
As I have had years of experience serving local people I am confident that I can cope with different views
Making sure that we challenge when people are not telling the truth. Everyone should be free to express their opinion so long as they do not lie.
Totally capable
Not enough community members expressing their views or being heard
No probs.
Council transparency & clarity
I am capable of being able to consider differing views and allowing them to be expressed.
The challenge of misinformation in the context of free speech.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Chris Dever
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Councillor 34/40 very
John Clements
Councillor 34/40
Graeme Elvin
Councillor 30/40
Anne Henry
KATIKATI Community Board 30/40
Rodney Joyce
Mayor 30/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel I am capable. The issue with your questions is that there are legal issues which limit a 5. Incitement for example and physical exposure obscenity is beyond the limit.
Political lobby groups pressuring and labelling individuals.
Reasonably adept
I think the lack of “civil” in society. With any freedom comes a responsibility. When the right is tempered by responsibility we might make progress.
Very capable
Facebook freely posted inflammatory commentary
Very comfortable. I mediated different views for 30 years as a journalist around the world
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Ability for the public to easily monitor council discussions in workshops
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Murray Grainger
Councillor 36/40
Candice R Thomas
Councillor 35/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Fine
I am open minded and understand how important it is to belong, be heard and be seen. I will be proactive and productive with the issues of main concern to the community and locals at large.
Wokeness
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
The back lash of expressing the history and true nature of the way things have been handled and managed within the systems of local governance and helping the people mainly Maori in the Western bay of Plenty and nation wide also. Reality of what is known and been encouraged creates confusion and uncertainty something that I am strongly against is having no accountability or responsibility taken by those who create problems and not solutions that give families and individuals disadvantages and hardship
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WESTLAND DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Flow In Councillor 36/40
Greg Maitland
Councillor 34/40
Helen Lash
Mayor 27/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
I feel very capable. I’m well trained in discourse and debate
If I don’t Like what I’m hearing . I must present a better argument
We must be able to criticise race and faith centred issues, without fear of censure or violence
Very. It’s important that these points are discussed and challenged if and where needed, as long as you can keep the conversation respectful. We have become too PC with a lot of what we do and say, but moderation is still very important.
Here In Westland I don’t think it’s too much of an issue as Coasters as a rule say whatever they like “ and then some
The nasty vitriol from some make the general public avoid getting into conversations, voicing opinions and being involved in debates. It’s very sad as community say and involvement is essential for councils to ensure they are representing their communities well. Social media has a lot to answer to for what it encourages around bullying, toxic attitudes and comments.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WHANGANUI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Scott Phillips Councillor 40/40
Philippa BakerHogan Councillor
Peter Oskam
Other (please specify)
35/40
Completely capable
Extremely capable
34/40 Well
Andrew Tripe
Mayor 31/40 very good
Julian Emmett
Councillor
31/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Reasonably capable
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Whanganui Iwi Land Settlement Trust is a challenge for many
Incitement to cause harm
People wanting to censor views they don’t like
online abuse; lack of understanding of the full argument
Speaking out about Ableism
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community? MeetingTransparencyPublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
WHANGANUI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Hayden Potaka Councillor 30/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
I am confident managing differing views because I have spent years facilitating hui where strong opinions are expressed. I listen first, ensure everyone feels heard, and then guide the korero toward common ground and practical solutions. Even when we don’t all agree, I make sure discussions remain respectful and productive for the whole community.
For our community, the biggest free-speech challenge is making sure all voices are heard equallyâ especially rangatahi, kaum_tua, and those who often feel shut out of local decisionmaking. Free speech isn’t just about having the right to talk, it’s about creating safe spaces where people can express themselves without fear of being ignored, attacked, or sidelined. The real challenge is ensuring respectful dialogue so that even when views differ, everyone still feels part of the k_rero and the solutions we build together.
Sandra Isobel Kyle Councillor 29/40
Michael Law
Councillor 20/40
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Very capable
Maintaining a constructive dialogue
I have no concerns.
Culture.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
WHANGANUI DISTRICT
COUNCIL
Josh Chandulal-
Mackay Mayor 37/40
PublicArt&ExpressionLawfulSpeechonCouncilPropertyPublicVenues&ViewpointsSocialMedia Moderation Off-DutyStaffExpressionFree-SpeechTrainingHateSpeechLawsFreeSpeechUnionMemberCapacity to manage difference: Priority Concern
Freedom of speech and expression is a core element of my campaign for mayor, as I believe that the exchange of ideas and the clash of principles help us to learn, to strengthen the rationale that sits behind each of our positions and most importantly, without it, we entrench distrust, toxic tribalism and create a society that is less open-minded. As politicians and local leaders, we need to promote open debate and discussion as the pathway to creating better communities.
A move by some to restrict certain types of speech in public spaces, because it entrenches polarisation, distrust and ironically, emboldens the views of the people who some proponents of free speech restrictions seek to change. The best way to encourage people to change their views is by meeting them where they’re at, listening to understand their experiences, and engaging in an open discussion.
Robin Westley Councillor 31/40
I enjoy debating different issues
Policies and points of view should be free to be debated but personal threats and attacks is unacceptable.
Meeting Transparency: All local council meetings should be live-streamed and archived online for public access.
Public Art & Expression: Councils shouldn’t remove or censor legal public artworks or murals that some community members find offensive.
Lawful Speech on Council Property: Councils should not ban any lawful speech on council-owned property or platforms.
Public Venues & Viewpoints: Council-managed public venues (e.g. community halls, libraries) should allow any lawful opinions to be expressed within them, without content-based restrictions.
Social Media Moderation: Council social-media pages should only delete comments that are clearly illegal or threatening, and leave all other lawful criticism up.
Off-Duty Staff Expression: Council employees should have full freedom to express personal political or social views in their private time, even if those views relate to their official role.
Free-Speech Training: Elected members and senior council staff should receive formal training on free-speech principles and public forum law.
Hate Speech Laws: Government ‘hate speech’ law are vague and capricious, and should not be expanded.
Capacity to manage difference: How capable do you feel in managing differing views in your community, and facilitate productive discourse over these issues?
Priority Concern: In your view, what is the single biggest free-speech challenge facing your community?
