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Kiwiblog
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Kiwiblog
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.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Selwyn mayor announced state of emergency from Wellington
An image taken by Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton in a helicopter flyover shows the flooding around Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere on May 2. Photo: LDR/supplied A decision by the Selwyn mayor to fly to Wellington while his region was under a heavy rain warning has been defended by the council boss. Mayor Sam Broughton announced a state of emergency for his flood-hit region in a social media post on 1 May at 6.30am, from a hotel room in the capital. Broughton and councillor Elizabeth Mundt flew to Wellington on the afternoon of 30 April for the All of Local Government meeting - a gathering of council and government representatives. The MetService had issued an orange rain warning for Canterbury on the morning of 30 April. Locals have expressed anger on social media that Broughton was not in Selwyn during the emergency. Selwyn District Council chief executive Sharon Mason defended the decision for Broughton - who is the Local Government NZ president - to attend the event. "We had been watching the weather forecasts all week, and the advice was that the bulk of the rain would fall in Waimakariri, Hurunui, and Kaikōura, and it was okay to travel," Mason said. As the weather changed, Mason said she discussed with Broughton that it was better for her to remain in Selwyn. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver "Sam stayed updated on developments from the team that evening and early Thursday morning when the decision was made to declare a state of emergency," Mason said. "As it became clear that the predicted rain was falling further south than anticipated by both MetService and ECan [Canterbury's regional council] Flood Controllers, every effort was made to ensure smooth communication, and Cr Sophie Innes was deputised with the powers associated with the state of emergency. The stormy weather in Wellington cancelled all flights in and out of the Capital, so the mayor drove to Palmerston North to catch a flight back on the afternoon of 1 May, she said. The state of emergency was lifted at 3pm on Friday. On his return, Broughton travelled in a helicopter with Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell , MP Vanessa Weenink members of the civil defence team. Mason said it "provided a clear view of the hardest-hit areas and an overview of where swollen rivers and streams had overflowed". "This was also an opportunity to explain to Minister Mitchell the dynamics of Te Waihora, particularly the importance of the lake's water level and the right tidal conditions for an effective opening." A week later, the district is still counting the cost of the heavy rainfall and flooding, but Mason said it was too early to estimate the cost of recovery. Mason said the focus is on supporting people who had homes and properties affected by flooding. The council was also assessing the damage to roads and bridges. Broughton said the goal is always to prepare early, communicate clearly, open the Emergency Operations Centre promptly, and take a precautionary approach. "While I believe we did these things well, there will always be room for improvement. "I am incredibly proud and thankful for the hard work of our teams, our emergency services, and the great work neighbours did with and for each other." The hardest hit areas were around Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere, including the towns of Leeston and Doyleston, which suffered severe surface flooding. There was some criticism that Te Wiahora Lake Ellesmere could have been opened to the sea sooner to avoid the water flowing down the bulging Selwyn River from backing up and causing surface flooding. ECan hazards general manager Leigh Griffiths said it was supposed to be opened before the heavy rain, but an opening wasn't possible. "We didn't attempt an opening at that time because of the sea conditions - the swell was too large, so we were confident any attempts at opening wouldn't succeed." The lake opening is jointly managed by Ngāi Tahu and ECan, and governed by the National Water Conservation Order and suite of Resource Consents. Griffiths said consultation for a lake opening started on 28 April, and a joint decision was made to open late on 29 April, with the heavy rain starting on 1 May. An opening was made on May 3, but the tide and waves closed it up again overnight, Griffiths said. The lake was successfully opened to the sea again on Monday and remained open for 24 hours. "Sea conditions are currently good. Machinery remains onsite to help the process along." The cost of each opening ranges from $20,000 to $150,000, depending on the amount of work. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
