The Keith Locke Memorial Debate 2026
After the success of the inaugural debate in 2025, we’re doing it again!
Two teams with contrasting views will square up to debate a contentious issue, and audience votes will determine the winner.
Join us to remember Keith’s work and promote the importance of open political debate.
The moot: Hate Speech Laws threaten Free Speech
For Keith, ‘free speech’ was fundamental to democracy and something that progressive movements have fought for over generations.
Details
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Location: Stone Lecture theatre, The University of Auckland Law School – Building 801, Room 316, 9 Eden Crescent, Auckland 1010 and online
Time: Drinks and canapes from 6pm, Debate from 7pm.
Please note: as this year’s event is catered, there is a modest ticket charge rather than a cash bar.
Tickets: $20, $10 unwaged
Seats are limited
Meet this year’s debaters
Moderator
Jane Kelsey
Jane Kelsey is an academic activist who “retired” from Waiapapa Taumata Rau/ University of Auckland law school in 2022. A great admirer of Keith’s, Jane continues his tradition of talking truth to power in Aotearoa and internationally.
Affirmative
Leader: Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury
Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury is a political commentator, consultant and host of the weekly Political Podcast, ‘the Bradbury Group’. He is the Editor of the Daily Blog, New Zealand’s largest left wing political blog and he has been commentating on NZ politics for 31 years.
Verity Johnson
Verity Johnson is one of NZ’s most popular opinion columnists, with her number one column for Stuff, and regular contributions on Radio NZ. She has published widely in NZ and overseas, co-hosted The Paul Henry breakfast show, reported for Newshub, and is often on The Rock. Her comedy work includes writing on Seven Days, performing at Melbourne Int. Comedy Festival & co-owning / writing cabaret show Club Burlesque. She has curated exhibitions for both museums and art galleries. A voice for young women in Aotearoa, Verity delivers a lively, intelligent, and provocative take on current affairs.
Thomas Beagle
Thomas Beagle is the chairperson of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties and an unashamed supporter of liberal democracy. Of Pākehā descent, he lives in Carterton but still thinks of Wellington as home. He has had a long involvement with computers and the IT industry and is increasingly concerned by the way that civil liberties, particularly the right to privacy, are being eroded by advances in technology. However, he is no luddite and believes that modern technology can be used to increase democratic participation and hold government to account.
Negative
Leader: Simon Wilson
Simon Wilson is a journalist focusing on politics, climate change, urban issues and the arts. He is a former senior writer at NZ Herald and editor of Metro, Cuisine and Consumer magazines. His many awards include feature writer of the year (twice), magazine of the year (for Metro and Cuisine), and awards for essay writing, opinion writing and reviewing. He is the author of HomeGround: The Story of a Building that Changes Lives (Massey University Press, 2022) and editor of The Journal of Urgent Writing vol 2 (MUP, 2017). Simon writes a regular column in NZ Listener and appears frequently as a commentator on Radio New Zealand.
Anjum Rahman
Anjum Rahman has had a keen interest in free speech issues since her first submission to Parliament in 2004 on the Films, Videos and Publications Classifications Act. The following year, she submitted to the Hate Speech Inquiry, and since then has written about and advocated on the topic. She took part in the Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University free speech debate in 2024. Ms Rahman works on belonging and inclusion at Tāhono Trust, and is involved in the Christchurch Call Advisory Network, which addresses terrorist and violent extremist content online.
Yasmine Serhan
Yasmine is a highly respected trade union organiser, educator, and social justice advocate who has organised around Te Tiriti o Waitangi Justice and Palestinian Liberation across Aotearoa. In 2026, Yasmine is running for the Green Party of New Zealand as a list candidate in the newly formed Glendene electorate in West Auckland.
Previous debates
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