A controversial philosopher will next month speak at an Auckland arena after last year being "deplatformed" by another entertainment venue concerned by his views.
Peter Singer has told Newshub "freedom of thought and expression" is important in a democracy and he should be free to declare his views on issues at an event planned in August at Trusts Arena.
Singer, a utilitarian philosopher known for his writing on animal rights, last year had his speaking event at SkyCity cancelled after the venue said themes he promoted didn't reflect its "values of diversity and inclusivity".
It came after concerns were raised by the disabled community with Newshub about Singer's view that it may be ethical for parents to choose euthanasia for severely disabled newborn infants. SkyCity's move came despite one outraged advocate saying he was entitled to his freedom of speech.
The philosopher, who has been recognised as the Australian Humanist of the Year and also labelled the most dangerous person in the world - a title used in promotional material for his events - said at the time it was the first time he had been "deplatformed" in his 50-year career.
His promoter says the event was quickly moved to Trusts Arena, but due to COVID-19, it was postponed. Unless COVID-19 intervenes, the event will go ahead as planned.
It's scheduled to take place in August and Singer has told Newshub there are two key reasons why it should go ahead.
"The primary reason the event should go ahead is that freedom of thought and expression is a key value for any open and democratic society and I, like anyone else, should be free to express my views on a range of issues, and New Zealanders should be free to choose to hear me, and ask me questions, if they wish to do so."
The second reason, he said, is that he's speaking in support of The Life You Can Save, a charity he founded, and all profits will "go to the most effective charities helping people in extreme poverty".
"These charities have been independently assessed as being highly effective in preventing children dying from malaria and other preventable, poverty-related diseases; restoring sight for people who otherwise could not afford to get their cataracts removed; repairing obstetric fistulas in young women who otherwise will live the rest of their lives as outcasts because of incontinence; and many other benefits."
After being asked to host Singer's event, Trusts Arena said it reviewed its policy regarding controversial speakers.
That requires management to consider three key elements when hiring out the facility, including considering if the speaker is in breach of Section 61 or 131 of the Human Rights Act.
"Singer's material may be considered controversial by many but it does not appear to be 'threatening, abusive or insulting' or 'likely to excite hostility against, or bring into contempt, any group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins' as per the Act," a spokesperson said.
"Does the speaker 'publish or use words that are threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent of exciting ill-will or hostility against the people targeted, or that are likely to bring them into contempt or ridicule'? Again, his content does not appear to do so."
The arena noted that under the Bill of Rights Act, everyone has the "freedom to seek, receive and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form".
"Allowing Singer to speak at the Trusts Arena would be consistent with this part of the Bill of Rights. Arguably, refusing him permission to speak would breach it," it said.
"On that basis, The Trusts Arena management has no grounds on which to block his appearance so long as he doesn't 'threat[en], abuse or insult' or 'excite hostility against' a group of people on the basis of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins' or excite 'ill-will or hostility against the people targeted or bring them into contempt or ridicule'.
"Trusts Arena makes no judgement as the veracity or quality of the content of this event, or indeed of any hiring of our facilities, beyond these requirements."
The sections of the Human Rights Act mentioned are currently the subject of planned reforms by the Government, which wants to protect more groups from hate speech. The proposals suggest for someone to be in breach of the Act, they'd need to incite, stir up, maintain or normalise "hatred" within people towards a group.
SkyCity said last year that it had cancelled "the venue hire agreement" for Singer's event "following concerns raised by the public and local media".
"Whilst SkyCity supports the right of free speech, some of the themes promoted by this speaker do not reflect our values of diversity and inclusivity."
Singer responded by saying he had been spoken at many events over his long career without issue.
"It's extraordinary that SkyCity should cancel my speaking engagement on the basis of a newspaper article without contacting either me or the organiser of my speaking tour to check the facts on which it appears to be basing the cancellation," he said.
"I have been welcomed as a speaker in New Zealand on many occasions and spent an enjoyable month as an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury more than 20 years ago. If New Zealand has become less tolerant of controversial views since then, that's a matter for deep regret."
Later in the year, he told MagicTalk his views aren't "all that different from things that are happening right now" that are already generally approved.
He said parents of severely disabled children being consulted by their physicians if the child is on a ventilator and in an Intensive Care Unit as to whether they want to continue to ventilate the child is an example.
"I'm talking about really severe cases where the prospects for the child are very poor, and if parents say 'look under these circumstances it would be better to withdraw the ventilator', the doctors will agree and they know that means the child will die," he said.
"I think they're doing what I'm suggesting, it's just they're doing it by withdrawing a treatment rather than by taking some active measures."
