On this page
Cabinet agreed on 16 December 2024 to amend the Education and Training Act so that:
- each university will be required to develop and adopt a freedom of speech statement, setting out their approach to freedom of speech, consistent with clear expectations
- university councils will have a duty to protect and promote academic freedom and freedom of speech and
- universities will be required to publicly report on academic freedom and freedom of speech in their annual reports and to maintain complaints processes.
The wording has changed from ‘freedom of speech’ to ‘freedom of expression’ for statutory consistency.
The published information includes key documents and decisions that relate to this work.
Information
Where information in these documents has not been released, the relevant Official Information Act 1982 grounds for withholding have been noted.
Cabinet papers#
Cabinet Paper CAB-24-MIN-0499 University Freedom of Speech LegislationBriefing notes and reports#
2 August 2024 - Free speech policy – high level timeframe for legislation14 August 2024 - Free Speech commitment – Legislative options10 October 2024 - Freedom of speech in the tertiary education system4 November 2024 - University Freedom of Speech Legislation7 November 2024 - Further Advice on University Freedom of Speech Legislation