Greater Wellington Regional Council Letter Regarding Rejected Amnesty International Advertising

03 February 2026 

To the,  

Chief Executive: nigel.corry@gw.govt.nz   

Councillors: councillors@gw.govt.nz  

Governance Greater Wellington Regional Council: democracy@gw.govt.nz  

1. PILLAR writes to formally request clarification and justification regarding Greater Wellington Regional Council’s refusal to permit outdoor advertising for a recent Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand campaign. 

1. PILLAR is a civil liberties organisation committed to protecting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to ensuring that government-funded bodies exercise their powers in a manner consistent with democratic principles, transparency, and the rule of law. 

1. As reported publicly, Greater Wellington Regional Council declined the advertisements due to concern over a perceived reference to Gaza. The advertisements formed part of a broader campaign focused on critical thinking, public discourse, and human rights, and were accepted and displayed by other outdoor advertising providers without complaint or incident. 

1. Given Greater Wellington Regional Council’s status as a publicly funded authority controlling access to public advertising space, this decision raises serious concerns about viewpoint discrimination and the suppression of lawful expression in public forums. 

1. Accordingly, PILLAR formally requests the following:  

1. Identification of the specific advertising policy provisions relied upon to refuse the advertisements, including the exact wording of those provisions. 

1. A clear explanation of how those provisions were interpreted and applied to the content of the Amnesty International advertisements. 

1. Disclosure of any internal guidelines, codes of conduct, or decision-making frameworks relied upon in addition to the published advertising policy. 

1. A detailed justification for the conclusion that the advertisements were impermissible, particularly in light of the fact that the same advertisements were displayed elsewhere without complaint. 

1. Clarification as to whether Greater Wellington Regional Council considers lawful expression to be excludable solely on the basis that it touches on politically sensitive or contested issues. 

1. Freedom of expression is a protected right under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and a foundational democratic principle. Government-funded entities have a heightened obligation to apply policies in a manner that is viewpoint-neutral and consistent with these protections. 

1. Public institutions do not maintain neutrality by excluding difficult or controversial speech. Neutrality is undermined when public platforms are selectively closed to speech that challenges prevailing narratives or government conduct. 

1. PILLAR is also concerned by reports that requests for dialogue or discussion were declined. A refusal to engage meaningfully on decisions that affect fundamental rights risks eroding public trust and democratic accountability. 

1. We therefore request a written response addressing each of the points above, and confirmation of whether Greater Wellington Regional Council is prepared to engage constructively on ensuring its advertising policies are applied in a manner consistent with freedom of expression and democratic norms. 

Yours sincerely, 

Nathan Seiuli 

Executive Director, PILLAR