A great partnership

The Free Speech Union announced:

Free Speech Union proud to be New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council 2024 named-sponsor 

In line with the Free Speech Union’s commitment to invest in a culture that values free speech and debate, we are excited to announce our partnership with the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council (NZSDC). We will support them in presenting their finals debate at Parliament this year at the end of May, says Nick Hanne, the Union’s manager for education partnerships. 

“Alongside our work in high schools around the country through our ‘Speak Up’ programme, and supporting events at universities (such as the free speech moot we hosted yesterday with the Auckland University of Technology Mooting Society), we are excited to help champion the important work of the Debating Council. We’re pleased to join our name with theirs in championing a new generation of critical thinking, free speaking, debaters.

“The work of the NZSDC aligns with our own organisational mission of promoting a culture of free discourse and independent critical thinking amongst young Kiwis.

This gives me some hope for the future, that at least school debaters still want to actually debate. Already at university level you have the Auckland University Mooting Society refusing to take parts in any debates involving the FSU. So it is great to see the NZSDC in this partnership. Debate is the enemy of censorship, and we should welcome it.