Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago is committed to the exercise of academic freedom and the right to freedom of expression within the law, the advancement of knowledge, and our role as critic and conscience of society.
Amendments introduced through the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 required all university councils to adopt formal statements on freedom of expression. These provisions included an expectation that universities should not take institutional positions on matters that are not related to their role or functions.
The University adopted the following formal statements on Free Speech and Institutional Neutrality, which give effect to these requirements. Together they reflect the University’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression, and ensuring that the University community can freely explore, test, and engage with critical issues.
Statement on Free Speech
Free speech is the lifeblood of a university. It enables the exploration of ideas, the challenging of assumptions, and the uncovering of truth through open exchange. It allows students, teachers and researchers to know better the variety of beliefs, theories and opinions in the world. Only through a preparedness to challenge, question, and criticise ideas can progress in understanding take place. Consistent with its motto Sapere Aude, ‘dare to be wise’ and the ikoa Māori Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago is committed to the fearless pursuit of knowledge driven by māhirahira (curiosity) and bounded by pono (integrity). That commitment requires a wide range of views to be freely presented, discussed and debated.
The University affirms that it will not restrict debate or deliberation simply because the ideas put forth are thought by some to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or wrong-headed. It is for the members of the University community – its students and staff – to make those judgments for themselves. The University is not a place for safety from ideas – it is a place to engage in critical thought and debate in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Our students will not be prepared for a complex and challenging world unless they have experience negotiating conflict and disagreement.
The University therefore guarantees all members of its community, including invited visitors, the right to advance ideas in the spirit of free and open enquiry. Furthermore, in its role as critic and conscience of society, the University provides a space in which contrary and unpopular positions can be advanced free from political interference or suppression.
This commitment to free speech does not mean that any utterance is appropriate in a university setting. The University may properly restrict expression which violates the law. Moreover, the University accepts no duty to provide a space for those who are not members of its community to advance their ideas or theories in ways which fundamentally undermine the University’s character as an institute of higher learning. The University may also reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University.
The University’s support for free speech carries with it corollary responsibilities. Although students, staff, and visitors are free to criticise, contest, and condemn the views expressed on campus, they should not obstruct, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express those views.
The University challenges members of its community and invited visitors to be tolerant of the diversity of identities and beliefs of others. We encourage debate in good faith guided by the principles of manaakitaka (care and respect for others).
This statement was ratified on 9 July 2024, to reiterate the University’s solemn and long-standing responsibility not only to promote lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it. Portions of the statement were adapted from the University of Chicago’s Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression (January 2015) and the Model Code advanced as part of the Independent Review into Freedom of Speech in Australian Higher Education Providers (April 2019), the University of Oxford’s Statement on Free Speech (August 2016), and the University of Cambridge’s Statement on Free Speech (December 2020).
Statement on Institutional Neutrality
The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka adopts a position of institutional neutrality. This means that University leaders will not communicate institutional positions on controversial political topics except where such issues directly impact the University’s role or functions. Examples of such functions are the safety and wellbeing of staff and students, financial and regulatory concerns, sustainability, equity, ethical investment, and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The University's strategic documents and frameworks* are directly related to the role and functions of the university and therefore are not captured by the definition of institutional neutrality.
The University commits to creating, advancing, preserving, and applying knowledge, to partnering with mana whenua, and to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It does so as a community prepared to challenge social values, policies, practices, and institutions. On issues that directly impact the University’s role and functions, the University will communicate its ethical commitments and actions in support of those commitments acknowledging, where appropriate, disagreement within the University community as well as ongoing academic debate.
In the context of this policy, University leaders are any managers of units within the University. Communication here excludes scholarly or scientific communication as well as communications outside of work. Our University champions free speech and academic freedom. Its institutional neutrality upholds the principle that the University best serves society by allowing its members the maximal freedom to investigate, debate, and speak on important matters.
* As of 2025 these are: Pae Tata – Strategic Plan to 2030, the Māori Strategic Framework 2030, the Pacific Strategic Framework 2022–2030, the Equity and Diversity Strategic Framework, and Tī Kōuka: The Sustainability Strategic Framework 2022–2030.
Read the Report on Institutional Neutrality at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (PDF)
Complaints
If you have concerns about actions or decisions that you believe may be inconsistent with the statements above, or if you wish to make a complaint, please contact:
Email: freespeech@otago.ac.nz
Related documents
- Ethical Behaviour Policy
- Ethical Investment Policy (available July 2026)
- Ethical Procurement Policy
- Protected Disclosures Policy
- Supporting Staff with a Media Presence Policy and Procedure