Phil Goff has been in court and on the ropes over his false claims to have banned two alt right speakers from Council venues last year, but now John Tamihere has gone and shot himself in the foot. Again
Read Morefree speech
Imagine a world of speech without rules ...
The ACT Party's "plan to protect freedom of expression" is long on aspiration, short on detail, and would usher in an extremely unpleasant society should it ever be put into place.
This morning I had a chat to RNZ’s Morning Report about the ACT Party’s “plan to protect freedom of expression”.
Read MoreHow do you solve a problem like Chelsea?
Chelsea Manning is a convicted criminal and so some say the government should not allow her entry to New Zealand. But on what grounds should any government be allowed to police speech? How do we draw the line?
Read MoreIs Don Brash really different from those Canadians?
Amidst the free speech debate of recent weeks, there seemed to be some interesting flip-flops by those critical of Molyneux and Southern, but defensive of Brash. So what gives?
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'Good' is a conversation... what NZ's weekend of division should teach us
Let's not remember the visit of Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux for the division and insults. That way, they win. Let's instead remember what we have in common and keep talking
Read MoreWho do we think we are? The free speech debate
Debating the rights and wrongs of rights starts with the acknowledgement there is no right and wrong... so where do you draw the line?
Read MoreThe unnecessary martyrdom of Southern & Molyneux and the need to win the argument
The national debate over free speech is in many ways a sucker punch - "Squirrel!" - that has drawn our view away from the equally important job of winning the argument against the racist and ignorant views being expressed by the alt-right commentators
Read MoreIs calling for a boycott of Israel a form of hate speech?
Us intolerant liberal types who favour using the power of law to put an end to the sort of intolerant words and deeds that we detest should look to Canada and ... ponder.
Read MoreDirty Politics: Free speech & a policy-free election
Is the Dirty Politics debate making a mockery of the manifestos? And should authors have the right to right to use material that's obtained by criminal means?
Read MoreYou can't slate Key on the radio
The Electoral Commission is right to say the Planet Key song can't be played on the radio. That's because we have a stupid and outdated law in place.
Read MoreFighting the last war
Jock Anderson still just can't get over the fact that "leftie protestors" are allowed to burn flags as a form of protest. And it's all because of those meddling judges ... .
Read MoreOf speech and its consequences
Should John Tamihere and Willy Jackson get forced off the air? An anguished liberal wrings his hands.
Read MoreI am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD
Does the right to free speech extend to shouting at a woman to take off her burqa in a supermarket? If not, why not?
Read More“They Won’t Magically Turn You Into A Lustful Cockmonster”
Who says sport, politics and literature can't mix?
Read MoreOffensive christian billboard or offensive ethics ruling?
Do you believe in an interventionist God? Well, don't say so ... in case you offend people.
Read MoreYou have the right to free speech as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form." Discuss.
Read MoreNever argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference
There's an old saying in politics – that explaining is losing. Which is why it's best to have nothing to do with Viscount Monckton's search for publicity
Read MoreThe purpose of protest: In defence of Russel Norman
The debate over the Green party co-leader's protest in front of Xi Jinping is drawing out all kinds of criticisms, but surely the thing to remember is that protest is designed to confront
Read MoreIn praise of Steve Crow?
Steve Crow, Aotearoa's porn king, isn't necessarily the sort of free speech hero we might want to celebrate. But his fight with the Auckland City Council is one we all should support
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