David Lillis and Peter Schwerdtfeger - Free Speech and Academic Freedom on Campus: a Manufactured Crisis?

Are Claims of Suppression of Free Speech Not Real?

In the Post of 26 June, Dr. Sereana Naepi and Emeritus Professor Peter Davis inform us that concerns about constraints on free speech on university campuses constitute a manufactured crisis (Naepi and Davis, 2025). The authors claim that the crisis is designed to erode academic freedom while appearing to protect it. This is a very bold claim but how do they evaluate the intent of others in creating a manufactured crisis unless they can see into the minds of those other people?

John Raine, David Lillis, Peter Schwerdtfeger: Respecting Rutherford and Cook

 Why Cancel One of New Zealand’s Greatest Scientists?

Why was it necessary to cancel the names of two people so important to our history? Two figurative statues have just been knocked down.

 

Shortly before this year’s election, MBIE announced [1] the replacement from 2024 of the research excellence-focused Rutherford and James Cook Fellowships with the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships, as follows:

David Lillis and Peter Schwerdtfeger: The Mātauranga Māori – Science Debate

The Recent Controversy

A letter to the Listener, signed by seven internationally-renowned University of Auckland professors in July 2021, sparked a heated public controversy that has become increasingly vindictive. Several media articles have discussed the letter and reactions to it at length and we do not wish to duplicate their perspectives here. However, we do wish to present what we consider to be a balanced view of the critical issues and present a position that defends the integrity of science while accepting the value of indigenous knowledge.