Following a legal battle between Hutt City Council and the Free Speech Union over the Council’s censorship of inserts on Council sites, the parties have agreed to settle. The Council will make several public statements affirming its commitment to free speech, and its role as a gateway for information, not a gatekeeper, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union.
“It is not the role of local councils to decide what ratepayers do and don’t read. We took Hutt City Council and its Chief Executive, Jo Miller, to court when they refused to resolve the matter with us. Local ratepayers deserve better.
“The Hutt City Council removed a paid advertisement insert by the New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR) from newspapers from all council sites. The insert was from ‘Treaty of Waitangi – An Explanation’ by Sir Āpirana Ngata and was published in 31 NZME and Stuff newspapers.
“However, we now welcome Hutt City Council’s agreement to settle with us and their commitment to free speech and the right to impart and receive information and opinions as a critical part of our society. They’ve also acknowledged that if similar situations arise in the future, the Council would be likely to adopt a different approach.
The decision to remove the inserts was repugnant. Hutt City Council defended the decision. It is good they no longer do so.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
7 comments:
Yes, it is, as their actions were indefensible. The only question is now, what did those actions cost the ratepayers and will there be any accountability, let alone an apology?
Luckily the poor leader is not standing for re-election. They wreck and then they run.
Congratulations to the NZCPR and the FSU. This should never have happened and the outcome should not have been in contention. The HCC should be ashamed of themselves. A brilliant and necessary action by Jonathan Ayling and a major point made by Dr Muriel Newman.
Jo Miller is an immigrant. She needs to apologise and be educated and tested as to her knowledge of NZ History. Indeed all immigrants to NZ need this.
There is a whole generation of Jo Millers out there. It’s going to be a long hard fight, but the future of the country depends on winning every battle.
Jo Miller should stand down. Yes resign. As a ratepayer I don’t want to fund her incompetence. The current state of the finances are a mess and she lacks the leadership, skills and experience for our Lower Hutt City.
Agree with anon at 12.55. There are whole generation of 'Jo Millers' out there. Those of the 'white guilt apologists' who are the 'useful idiots' for the the likes of TPM, and seem to make up a large part of our local councils
Post a Comment