We dig into the Nursing Council’s draft code with ACT MP Todd Stephenson, asking how far professional standards should reach into private speech. We argue for clear rules tied to patient safety, real whistleblowing paths, and strong protections for lawful off‑duty expression.

• risks in Principle 4 on social media and private views
• why vague words like offensive or ill‑informed invite misuse
• the difference between clinical context and off‑duty speech
• lessons from current complaints and past cases
• the need for clear whistleblowing and error correction
• board composition and the value of frontline voices
• regulatory review, rights under NZBORA, and reform options
• preventing chilling effects during an election year
• pluralism, open debate, and democratic health

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and consider sharing the podcast with others
If you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, you can contact us at podcast@fsu.nz
If you want to find out more about the New Zealand Free Speech Union, visit fsu.nz

Support the show

https://www.fsu.nz/
https://x.com/NZFreeSpeech
https://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/
https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

We trace Greg Fleming’s path from charity leader to MP and his decision to learn Te Reo Māori as an adult, linking language revitalisation with a culture of listening and free speech. We test tokenism, compulsion, and what realistic, hopeful goals for Te Reo might look like.

• representing a highly mixed electorate and staying accessible
• dialogue as a proven way to reduce radicalisation
• awkward first steps bringing tikanga into workplace rhythms
• staff learning pathways and hosting community classes
• founding a faith-based immersion college in West Auckland
• confidence, pronunciation, and generous feedback loops
• clarity versus symbolism for government department names
• tokenism risks and how to invite, not force, language growth
• realistic goals for bilingual capacity and teacher limits
• supporting Te Reo in homes, churches, and Parliament

If you have any questions for us, do send them in at podcast@fsu.nz

Support the show

https://www.fsu.nz/
https://x.com/NZFreeSpeech
https://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/
https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

In this episode of Free to Speak, Dane is joined by University of Auckland academic David Cumin to unpack the free speech flashpoints that follow moments of national shock.

They start with the Adelaide Writers’ Festival controversy - where Palestinian activist Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited, sparking a mass boycott - and dig into what “principled” free speech looks like when the same institutions have previously sidelined pro-Israel voices.

From there, they examine how Australia rushed through new hate speech laws after the Bondi attack, why fast-tracked censorship powers often backfire, and how “hate speech” frameworks tend to become partisan tools rather than genuine protections.

The conversation ranges across hypocrisy, public funding and cultural gatekeeping, the unintended consequences of criminalising speech, and why open debate remains the best antidote to extremism - even when the views in question are ugly.

Support the show

https://www.fsu.nz/
https://x.com/NZFreeSpeech
https://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/
https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz