The 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. The email, sent after the magazine ran an op-ed by Auckland councillor Mike Lee criticising the Mayor's record rates rise, was published by Lee on Facebook over the weekend.
"Days after the Mayor's office declared that 'threatening sentiment' from his critics 'needs to stop', it emerged he had been privately threatening a community newspaper for publishing an opinion he didn't like. He demands tolerance from his critics that he refuses to extend to them," says Jillaine Heather, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union.
"The Mayor of Auckland holds the biggest platform in the city. If he disagrees with Mike Lee, he is free to argue back publicly. That is how free speech works. Instead, he chose private intimidation of a small publisher.
"Ratepayers criticising a rates rise is democratic accountability at its most basic. An elected official using the weight of his office to menace journalists chills the speech every Aucklander depends on. Whatever Wayne Brown meant by it, editors should never receive threats from mayors."
From the Editor
Our team was disappointed by the Mayor's email. Wayne Brown is aware we believe in freedom of speech. Everyone we speak to are fed up with big rates increases. 7.9% is a big number especially all of us dealing with the cost of living crisis.
