Press Release – Keith Locke
The second Keith Locke Memorial Debate takes place on Thursday 2 July 2026. The debate honours the memory of former Green MP and social justice advocate Keith Locke who died on 21 June 2024. This years highly topical moot is: Hate speech laws …
The second Keith Locke Memorial Debate takes place on Thursday 2 July 2026. The debate honours the memory of former Green MP and social justice advocate Keith Locke who died on 21 June 2024.
This year’s highly topical moot is: ‘Hate speech laws threaten free speech’. Keith’s sister Maire Leadbeater suggests ‘There is no better way to honour Keith’s memory than with a debate on the free speech topic which was much on Keith’s mind in his last years. Our debate will contribute to a clearer understanding of this contentious issue.’
Martyn (Bomber) Bradbury who leads the Affirmative team is a political commentator, host of the weekly Political Podcast, ‘the Bradbury Group’ and the Editor of the Daily Blog, New Zealand’s largest left wing political blog. His team includes Verity Johnson one of NZ’s most popular opinion columnists, with her number one column for Stuff, and regular contributions on Radio NZ. Her lively take on current affairs is a breath of fresh air. Thomas Beagle is the current Chairperson of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties and an unashamed supporter of liberal democracy.
Simon Wilson, award winning journalist and commentator, currently writing for the Listener and many other outlets leads the negative team and his colleagues are: Yasmine Serhan, respected trade union organiser, educator, social justice advocate and Green list candidate and Anjum Rahman of the Tāhono Trust, who is a deeply involved with free speech and hate speech issues through her involvement in the Christchurch Call Advisory Network, and the government’s Hate Speech Inquiry.
Our moderator is Jane Kelsey, an Emeritus Professor of Law, and no stranger to controversy. She is looking forward to facilitating a provocative but fair debate. A popular vote will determine the winner.
Keith Locke Memorial Debate: 2 July 2026
6 pm for drinks and canapes and 7 pm start
Venue : Law School 9 Eden Cres.
Admission by ticket only (they are selling fast) from the website below
See https://keithlocke.org.nz/keith-locke-memorial-debate/
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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