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Mayor's Threat To Community Paper An Attack On Free Speech
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Scoop NZ - Politics
Mayor's Threat To Community Paper An Attack On Free SpeechThe Free Speech Union is calling out Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown for emailing the editor of Ponsonby News with the warning that "your paper will die" if it published criticism of him.
He demands tolerance from his critics that he refuses to extend to them," says Jillaine Heather, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union.
That is how free speech works.
An elected official using the weight of his office to menace journalists chills the speech every Aucklander depends on.
Notes:Screenshot of the Mayor's email to Ponsonby News is available here: view screenshot - https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/images.fsu.nz%2Fpublications%2Fwayne-brown-ponsonby-news-email-2026-07-03-email.png/rs8SAQ/29TGAQ/AQ/0e78af0b-6c6f-4c65-a933-b2f5c4956dc0/2/G3ogR__e3gAdvertisement - scroll to continue readingThe Free Speech Union has verified the authenticity of the email address.