Guest Post: Keep calm and carry on speaking
As commemorations of the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day occur this week, it is worth remembering not only the 46 million lives that were lost, but also how close fascism came to permanently erasing liberal democracy in Europe. Until recently, the West found this commemoration of the end of WWII a comforting reminder that our forebears secured an unrivalled period of prosperity and peace. Liberal democracies for a good two generations have lived off the afterglow of that victory.
But in the last decade especially the durability of that prosperity and peace has been thrown into question. Major geopolitical upheaval – foreign conflicts, trade instability, and a rapidly changing information environment – has shaken our confidence in the seemingly unlimited promises of the post-war era. Anti-democratic approaches are no longer stigmatised. Many now embrace illiberalism online, not just in fellow democracies but here too in NZ. I think many of us, deep down, have been feeling quite acutely this vertiginous slide toward the precipice. The question is how to arrest it.
Last week, my colleague Steph and I had an opportunity on the Free Speech Union podcast to discuss with Shamubeel Eaqub, a NZ economist and commentator, his recently released research into social cohesion, or the notable lack thereof in this country. The news is bleak. Significant numbers of people feel disconnected from their local communities, while trust toward government and media is at rock bottom. Broadly speaking, Kiwis don't feel heard, are losing faith in public systems and institutions, and appear willing to entertain less democratic political solutions in the face of growing social and economic issues. Part of Eaqub's prescription for our fraying social fabric is a willingness for Kiwis to have the 'uncomfortable conversations' where we confront the issues we ordinarily shy away from.
But how do we do this in the online world, where respectful discourse often takes a back seat to the spiteful vitriol of anonymous trolls? Understandably, many women feel vulnerable in this hostile environment, as Minister for Women Nicola Grigg recently pointed out at a Local Government NZ conference. 'The prevalence of online harm has become a serious issue,' she argued, 'disproportionately impacting women who are in the public eye.'
The question though, is what realistically can be done about it? It isn't clear beyond current laws, which address physical threats of violence and menacing behaviours like stalking, what feasible options remain for dealing with the problem of misogyny. This is why free speech must be protected: so we can all call out opinions we disagree with. Censorship does absolutely nothing to change someone's mind and attitudes. Hateful, abusive statements online may be morally reprehensible and emotionally disturbing, but the sort of censorship dragnet needed to curb such nasty behaviour will inadvertently stifle non-malicious forms of expression essential for the preservation of democratic norms and culture.
Even if AI could provide an ideal moderating regime (which it has not yet even come close to sensibly or fairly achieving), a censorship filter would be doing little more than papering over the widening cracks emerging in civil society.
The increasingly troubled state of mind behind hateful language should be of deeper cause for concern and something which will require intervention at the level of local community rather than state regulation. There is also utility to consider; online discourse is the canary in the coalmine, a gauge of social cohesion and a test of the health of the body politic. But we deny ourselves this early detection device if the bird can't sing.
The Ministry for Women has released new training modules to address abuse directed at women online and while well-intentioned, at the Free Speech Union we are concerned the material leans too heavily on vague legal definitions that risk blurring the line between harm and legitimate dissent.
When people feel threatened and crave a sense of safety, it's easy to settle for the appearance of safety rather than the real thing. Language, while capable of inflicting emotional harm, is not in itself the greatest threat to our well-being – physical violence is. That's in part because violence, unlike speech with its dual powers for good and ill, has no potential upside.
Ample historical evidence exists of democracies refusing to tolerate violence without becoming police states. What we don't have are any examples of democracies where speech was ever comprehensively restricted without significant illiberal consequences.
If only certain staff at Environment Canterbury had understood this when they proposed that all members – including elected councillors – of the local government organisation be subject to a draconian media policy designed to limit criticisms of the organisation from within. If passed, it would have amounted, bristled one councillor, to a 'gagging order', with another asserting that as an elected representative of Canterbury ratepayers, 'the ability to challenge others in the organisation is my prerogative.'
Unsurprisingly, with strident defenders of local democracy like these willing to resist such managerial overreach, the measure was soundly defeated. The long overdue resistance within local government is asserting itself and regaining territory hitherto surrendered to self-appointed censors.
As the army recruitment officers used to say, the question now is how many other Kiwis are 'willing to do their bit'. Because lest we forget, it takes all sorts to preserve a democracy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
New Analysis Details Government Annual Gift Of $119m To Multinational Gambling Company
Greyhound Racing New Zealand has released new analysis detailing the extent to which the Government is financially supporting a multinational gambling giant. It comes as the Government is expected this week to pass the Racing Industry Amendment Bill into law, creating a digital monopoly on gambling for Entain. The analysis, prepared by an independent consultant, details the financial help required for Entain to meet its funding guarantee of $150m per year to the racing industry. The funding guarantee, combined with a guarantee to retain approximately 450 TAB staff until June 2025, were set under the terms of the agreement when the TAB's betting business was outsourced to Entain in 2023. The analysis estimates in dollar terms the value of the Government's support to bail out Entain so it can limit its losses in meeting the terms of its deal until 2029. The passage of legislation to block New Zealanders from gambling offshore will boost Entain annual revenues by at least $75m per year. The retention of gambling on Australian greyhounds after the ban comes into effect, will preserve Entain gross betting revenues of approximately $44m per year. Without these actions by the Government, Entain would be faced with an estimated revenue deficit of $26m per year. Greyhound Racing New Zealand CEO Edward Renell said: 'The Government has chosen to bail out a multinational gambling company at the expense of ordinary Kiwis. 'It will shamelessly pass laws and create digital monopolies so Entain can meet its funding guarantees and obligations to private shareholders. 'Entain won't need to compete to win new revenue as it was brought in to do. It will be gifted it by banning Kiwis from using non-Entain betting providers and retaining gambling on Australian greyhound racing. 'The decision to keep taking money from Australian greyhound races, but strip thousands of regional Kiwis of their livelihoods and passion, is depressingly cynical and hypocritical. 'Gross income of $44 million dollars each year will now be sliced up between the Government, Entain and the equine codes and not go to the thousands of trainers, owners, and breeders involved in greyhound racing. 'It's a reverse Robin Hood. The Government is taking money from the provinces to save face on a bad deal and keep the money flowing into Entain, thoroughbred and harness racing.' Notes: Timeline of Entain – TAB deal: March 2023: TAB and Entain agreed to enter a strategic partnership agreement where TAB has delegated its betting and wagering functions to Entain. May 2023: The partnership was approved by then Racing Minister Labour's Kieran McAnulty, outsourcing TAB's monopoly betting operation to Entain for 25 years, a UK-listed multinational. 50% revenue share between Entain and the TAB. May 2023: TAB sought a variation to its authorisation of its arrangements with Tabcorp to reflect strategic partnership with Entain. June 2023: The partnership officially started on June 1, 2023. Entain Guarantees under the terms of sale: Entain provided TAB $150 million upfront a with a guaranteed $150 million for the first five years. $10 million sponsorship for racing carnivals. On passage of the Racing Amendment bill into law: $100 million payment from Entain, $80 million to be shared between thoroughbred and harness racing Entain committed to no forced redundancies for first 24 months of the agreement, due to expire this month (June 2025). Book value of Entain's TAB licence assets, if the Racing Amendment legislation goes through: According to Entain's March 2025 annual report, the estimated value of the New Zealand TAB licence assets was $2.7 billion NZD, including the potential introduction of the legislation. About GRNZ Greyhound Racing New Zealand is the governing body for greyhound racing in New Zealand and provides governance, support and assistance to the affiliated clubs in the sport of greyhound racing. The decision to end greyhound racing has significant economic and social consequences. The sport provides 1,054 full-time equivalent jobs and contributed $159.2 million to the economy in FY23. The Government announced on 10 December 2024, an intention to legislate to ban greyhound racing in New Zealand from 31 July 2026. Visit for more information.
NZ Herald
9 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Prime Minister Luxon, Peters to speak on US-Iran tensions as NZ sends plane to Middle East
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has yet to make his position on the US attacks on Iran known as it prepares to send a defence force plane to the Middle East. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Government was still assembling 'the facts' of the US attack on several Iranian nuclear sites before stating New Zealand's view. Luxon will speak on Newstalk ZB just after 7.37am when he calls in from Europe, where he is about to attend the Nato summit in the Hague. You can listen to the interview live from the below link: Earlier, Labour Party defence spokesman Peeni Henare, who supports the Defence Force deployment, called for the Government to declare the US bombings are in breach of international law. had carried out a 'very successful attack' on three Iran nuclear sites. Trump said the objective was to put a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's 'number one state sponsor of terror', and accused Iran of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. He claimed there are 'many targets left', and if peace was not achieved, the US would target them with 'speed, precision and skill'. Speaking from the Whenuapai airbase yesterday alongside Defence Minister Judith Collins, Peters said a C-130J Hercules plane containing Defence Force and Foreign Affairs personnel would take off from Whenuapai today and would be based in the Middle East. The pair's statement didn't clarify where the Hercules would be based, nor the range of personnel travelling. It was expected to take several days to reach its destination. The deployment was intended to aid evacuation flights should the airspace around Iran and Israel become less restricted, which could take 'weeks', according to Peters. He noted discussions with commercial airlines were ongoing, but repeated his advice that Kiwis should leave the region if they could do so safely. All New Zealanders in the Middle East, not just in Iran and Israel, were urged to register on SafeTravel. New Zealanders in Iran and Israel needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emergency consular call centre on +64 99 20 20 20. About 180 New Zealanders had registered as residing in either Israel or Iran, much higher than reported earlier this week. Peters said people were 'coming out of the woodwork' amid ongoing attacks.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
US strikes on Iran: New Zealand deploying Defence Force plane to Middle East
New Zealand is deploying a Defence Force plane to the Middle East in the hope of evacuating Kiwis from the region absorbed in 'extremely worrying' conflict. It comes after the United States bombed several nuclear sites in Iran, almost 50 years since the US Air Force was last active in
