(Crossposted from Pacific Empire) 

Along with many other New Zealanders worried about the effect of the Electoral Finance Bill on our freedom of speech, we will be marching on Parliament tomorrow. 12:30 pm at Civic Square for anyone who wants to join us. The protest will be apolitical, organised by Act party member John Boscawen, and with broad support.

The previous protest in Auckland attracted over 2000 freedom fighters, and we expect a high turnout. PC has photos of the Auckland protest here, here and here.

Luke has explained previously why we at Pacific Empire want this bill dead:

The EFB is one of the most breathtakingly audacious things the Labour Government of New Zealand has attempted so far, exceeding even the 2006 retrospective legislation which legalised the theft of almost a million dollars of taxpayer money (and which the LIbertarianz celebrated by declaring Banana Republic Day). The Electoral Finance Bill will have a chilling effect on free speech, severely limiting an amazing array of activities which discuss or criticise almost any political issue. And the bill’s effect will occur exactly when we need to discuss politics the most: election year.

I’m looking forward to getting the “Down with Nanny State” placard out again. Last time Luke and I marched, we were pictured on the front page of Scoop, I was interviewed for the Hutt News and my placard was quoted in the Guardian, Fox News and the International Herald Tribune

More seriously though, this bill represents one of the worst threats to free speech in New Zealand for many years. Freedom-loving Kiwis must fight it without compromise. It cannot be watered down - it must be drowned!