The Free Speech Union says remarks from the Chinese
Embassy criticising a New Zealand Herald opinion column,
written by Jonathan Ayling, raise serious questions about
foreign government pressure on New Zealand
media.
“The idea that a foreign government would
publicly rebuke a New Zealand newspaper for publishing a
local opinion piece should concern every New Zealander,”
said Jillaine Heather, Chief Executive of the Free Speech
Union. “Our media exists to serve a Kiwi audience – not to
reflect the sensitivities of overseas states.”
The
Union notes that the column was clearly labelled as opinion
– the section of a newspaper specifically intended for
robust, contestable arguments. Disagreeing with a viewpoint
is legitimate; questioning a newspaper’s right to publish
it is a different matter altogether.
This is not about
adjudicating the China–Taiwan debate. It is about a basic
democratic principle that foreign governments do not get a
veto over what New Zealanders are allowed to read, write, or
argue about.
“When overseas officials weigh in on
domestic opinion pages, the risk isn’t offence – it’s
self-censorship,” Heather said. “If media outlets begin
anticipating diplomatic displeasure before publishing lawful
commentary, public debate narrows quietly but
decisively.”
The Free Speech Union says this concern
is heightened as New Zealand enters an election year, when
open debate and a confident media are essential to
democratic decision-making.
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“We’ve seen how
pressure can escalate,” Heather said. “We defended
journalist Portia Mao in court when the Harmful Digital
Communications Act was used in an attempt to silence her
reporting on foreign interference in New Zealand. Legal
threats and political pressure are different tools, but they
serve the same end.”
A confident democracy does not
fear opinion. It answers it with more speech – not warnings
from abroad.
Notes:
On Thursday
(29/1/26) the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand posted on their
website, as well as across social media platforms,
condemning The Herald for posting an opinion piece
about Taiwan. This is their
statement on X –
https://x.com/ChinaEmbInNZ/status/2016722257494888904?s=20
This
is the Herald
opinion piece
(https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/taiwan-and-china-speech-is-the-front-line-jonathan-ayling/premium/OISB5JE52JDEJOUV5TIMUU7KIY/)
that they were responding to. Jonathan Ayling is the former
CEO of Free Speech Union.
The Free Speech Union
previously defended Portia Mao against vexatious litigation.
Portia is a journalist whose work covers foreign
interference in New Zealand’s politics, including from
people associated with the Chinese
Government.
