That’s a question that arises following Auckland Mayor Phil Gough’s action to not allow speakers who upset the notions of the Political Correctness Brigade to use council owned venues; and the cancelling of the speaking event with Don Brash by the Massey University Vice Chancellor.

The short answer is yes, sort of.

The statement appears in section 14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990:

Freedom of expression

Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.

There is qualification to that, however, specifically in Section 4 of the Summary Offences Act which deals with “Offensive behaviour or language”:

Subsection 1:

Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000 who,—

(a) in or within view of any public place, behaves in an offensive or disorderly manner; or
(b) in any public place…