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

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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

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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.

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This first “board roundup” episode focuses on a bigger pattern: regulators trying to extend their reach into online speech and private life.

The board unpacks the Broadcasting Standards Authority’s attempt to assert jurisdiction over internet live-streaming and podcasts (sparked by a complaint involving Sean Plunket), and what that would mean for alternative media and even ordinary people livestreaming online.

They then turn to The Telecommunications Amendment Bill they argue quietly expands interception and regulatory powers in ways that could undermine encryption and build “censorship-by-infrastructure” with weak oversight.

Finally, they discuss the Nursing Council’s proposed code of conduct and the Cath Simpson case as examples of professional regulators moving to punish lawful personal speech.

With: Jillaine Heather, Ani O'Brien, Douglas Brown & Stephen Franks

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Lawyer and Free Speech Union council member Douglas Brown joins the Free to Speak podcast to unpack the growing fight over who governs the internet - and why it matters for free expression in New Zealand.

Using InternetNZ and its recent board election as a case study, Douglas and host Dane Giraud trace how internet governance decisions (often quietly) shape what can and can’t be said online, and why Western democracies are increasingly flirting with restrictions - from platform regulation to debates over bans on services like X.

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In part two of this Free Speech Union Podcast, we follow Giles Brant and Peter Hardy to the end of their legal battle with the New Zealand Law Society. From a single email complaint to landmark rulings in the High Court and Court of Appeal, this episode traces their fight for free speech within the legal profession. Listen as they reflect on the principles at stake, the reality of challenging powerful institutions, and what it means to stand for truth and justice under intense scrutiny. Part two of two.

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In this episode of the Free Speech Union Podcast, council member Thomas Newman sits down with lawyers Giles Brant and Peter Hardie to unpack a chilling story of professional scrutiny and the fight for free speech. Hear how a simple email exchange triggered a gruelling disciplinary process with the Law Society — and what their ordeal reveals about the state of professional regulation today. This conversation explores the balance between professional ethics, personal freedoms, and the ever-present threat of censorship. Essential listening for anyone interested in where free speech and professional standards collide. Part one of two.

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In this episode, Nick and Steph sit down with Shamubeel Eaqub—an economist, author, and commentator—to discuss the findings of his recent study on social cohesion. They explore the various trends and factors contributing to a rise in people feeling less connected, and how we might move forward through free speech.

For more information about Shamubeel, check out his website: www.eaqub.com.

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