NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Banning of New Plymouth student’s speech leads to apology from school, free speech training

Natasha Gordon
By Natasha Gordon
Live News Reporter·NZ Herald·
26 Aug, 2025 07:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
NZ Herald Morning News Update | Reserve Bank bows to banks’ and Govt’s wishes & retirement savings gap emerging.

A student whose speech was barred from a school competition over concerns it might cause offence has finally received an apology, acknowledging the injustice of having his voice silenced.

New Plymouth Boys’ High School grabbed the attention of the nation after a student was banned from delivering his controversial speech last year.

Oliver Jull was 15 when he wrote the speech on the decline of Western civilisation, which was removed from the speech finals after concerns were raised.

The speech, which has been seen by the Herald, covered topics such as the decline of Western civilisation, traditional values, religion and the impacts of multiculturalism.

“Mass immigration and multiculturalism have disrupted the very fabric of Western societies,” he claimed in his speech.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

As of yesterday, after mediation supported by the Free Speech Union, New Plymouth Boys’ High School acknowledged that Jull’s speech was pulled because of the content.

The school apologised for the distress caused, and stated they remain committed to giving effect to the freedom of expression rights of students.

Jull told the Herald this apology was very significant and has given him the opportunity to move forward.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“For the past year, throughout countless meetings with the school and the board of trustees, the one thing we have sought from the very beginning is an apology.

“An apology to right what has been wronged and affirm that what happened was not acceptable. While it is disappointing that it has taken this long, I commend them for finally doing so, as I know it was not easy,” Jull said.

The schoolboy said he was “highly surprised” by the decision to omit his speech.

“Never did I expect my chosen topic to be excluded,” Jull said.

“The speech, as written, was not hate speech or politically motivated. It was rooted in fact, historically linked, and presented in a respectful manner.

“The decision came as a shock, which is why I questioned it.”

Chief executive of the Free Speech Union, Jillaine Heather, said staff will provide training at the school on best practice guidance on freedom of speech in an educational setting.

“Excluding a student from participating in the school speech finals because some members of the audience ‘may be offended’ is the antithesis of the standard we expect from our secondary schools,” Heather said.

“If democracy and tolerance are to have a future in New Zealand, they must start in our schools, where our future leaders are equipped to think independently and critically, and where they are applauded for having the courage to speak out.”

New Plymouth Boys’ High School grabbed the attention of the nation after a student was banned from delivering his controversial speech. Photo / Google Maps
New Plymouth Boys’ High School grabbed the attention of the nation after a student was banned from delivering his controversial speech. Photo / Google Maps

New Plymouth Boys’ High School’s actions up until the mediation did not set a good example for other young people, Heather said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“Their decision to apologise, reaffirm their commitment to free speech, and agree to free speech training is commendable and the only right course to take,” Heather said.

New Plymouth Boys’ High School has been approached for comment.

Jull said the youth of New Zealand should take this experience as a call to stand up for what they believe is right.

“Freedom of speech is our most fundamental human right; when these civil liberties are slowly eroded, even in something as small as a speech competition, we must recognise it. I ask students to know their values, hold them tight, and never let fear stop you from being heard,” Jull said.

This year, Jull delivered a speech on the theme “Underage gambling”, in which he outlined the growing issue of gambling among New Zealand youth (those aged under 16 years).

Jull said he will continue to enjoy his time at the school, which he said has plenty of opportunities.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

New Plymouth Boys’ High School has been approached for comment.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Man arrested after sixth alleged firearms incident in Levin since last week

New Zealand

Man's plan to post box full of cannabis foiled by 'distinctive odour'

New Zealand

'Evolving challenges': Zespri announces significant job cuts


Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Man arrested after sixth alleged firearms incident in Levin since last week
New Zealand

Man arrested after sixth alleged firearms incident in Levin since last week

There were five alleged firearms incidents in Levin last week.

26 Aug 08:15 AM
Man's plan to post box full of cannabis foiled by 'distinctive odour'
New Zealand

Man's plan to post box full of cannabis foiled by 'distinctive odour'

26 Aug 08:00 AM
'Evolving challenges': Zespri announces significant job cuts
New Zealand

'Evolving challenges': Zespri announces significant job cuts

26 Aug 07:55 AM


Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

10 Aug 09:12 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP