Defending The Absolute Right To Freedom Of Speech In New ZealandAcknowledging the Judicial Position on Free Speech:A recent statement by District Court Judge David Sharp in the Martyn Bradbury HDCA Civil Proceeding, that “freedom of speech is not absolute,” has reiterated a long-held position in New Zealand law: that the right to freedom of speech, though fundamental, is not currently absolute. Section 14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA) enshrines the right to freedom of expression. Representative democracy, as recognised by the courts, depends on the maintenance and protection of freedom of speech. A Call to Reconsider: Towards an Absolute Right:The Conservative Party of New Zealand calls on lawmakers, the judiciary, and the public to recognise that true freedom of speech can only exist when it is absolute. While the Conservative Party of New Zealand acknowledges and respects the current judicial approach, we urge a national conversation about the value of making freedom of speech absolute in New Zealand.