A booking at the Dunedin City Library for a group that opposes sex self-identification has been cancelled.
"We strive to ensure our libraries offer an environment where all members of our community can feel welcome and safe," a tweet from the Dunedin City Council said.
The June 17 booking was for Speak Up for Women New Zealand, which describes itself on its Facebook page as a non-partisan organisation that exists to protect and advance the rights and interests of women and girls.
However, the group has been branded anti-transgender by activists.
In its promotion of the meeting, Speak Up for Women New Zealand said the Government intended to push through a law change this year.
"This law is not only unpopular and unscrutinised, it also has wide-ranging implications for the rights of women and girls."
The Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill would enable people to self-identify their sex on their birth certificate without going to the Family Court, Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti has said.
"This Government understands that self-identification is a significant issue for transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, and is committed to making it easier for people to formally acknowledge their identified gender.”
The Dunedin City Council’s cancellation of the booking followed a similar move by the Christchurch City Libraries.
The Free Speech Union has asked the Christchurch City Council to explain its decision.
"This decision totally ignores the Court of Appeal’s decision issued last month confirming that council-owned venues must uphold free speech," union spokesman Dr David Cumin said.
"De-platforming these debates undermines the very heart of democratic participation — precisely the events civil venues were built for."
National Party leader Judith Collins has called the Christchurch decision disappointing.
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Comments
It seems in today's world, only one narrative is allowed.
Free speech is all well and good as long as you don't oppose the current fad of far-left thinking.
Please explain how Dunedin Libraries is promoting Far Left thinking by trying to ensure non disruption of public services.
I read this article twice, and didn't see who is against this talk, except "activists".
Who are they? Why haven't they been named in the article? Is it 100 or just 2?
How can a group willing to openly discuss an issue, get shut down by an anonymous person hiding behind anonymity?
The DCC needs to be more open and inclusive and the reporter needs to be more thorough.
The reporter files, an editor chooses. Are you paying for content?
These attacks on free speech that don't fit with the zeitgeist are becoming a worrying feature in what is a supposedly open society.
Free speech for all, as long as you say what we want. Well done DCC ... what a shameful bunch.
This is simply outrageous. If there had been any doubt about whether we now live in a Leninist state where free speech and basic democratic rights no longer exist, that doubt has now been extinguished.
The DCC should hang its head in shame.
Seems that those who espouse inclusivity like to exclude any dissenting voices. Shame on the DCC for blocking free speech.
A tweet... very inclusive way to inform the community.
Activists my foot, it was a bunch of ratepayers with careers in psychology, STEM, and history who told the library that our rates aren't for funding a free venue for pseudoscience, bullying, and bigotry.
In the words of the woman who contacted the library, they have as much free speech as they want, but they can hire their own venue.
And no, they aren't being censored because they don't get a free place on our buck.
Well writ.
Left wing ratepayers, communist psychologists.
Beijing agents, even the kids.