Summarised by Centrist
In Election Report 2023, the Free Speech Union (FSU) aims to give an overview of where both their organisation and NZ’s mainstream parties stand on issues of free speech. They provide material, such as lists of questions, to help voters determine candidates’ stances regarding free speech.
According to the FSU, the breakdown appears to be that the parties on the right (National, ACT, and NZ First) are generally more supportive of free speech. However, the right’s “tough on crime” stance may interfere with free speech.
On the left, according to FSU, Labour has “sought to limit free expression, but in some instances they have taken pro-free speech stances.”
They say “Te Pāti Māori does not have any solid campaign promises related to free speech issues, but their past record shows they often support measures to limit speech rights.” They also describe the Green Party’s record on free speech issues, which attract the most public attention, as “poor”.
