PILLAR at two months
There’s an old saying: “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”
Stories matter. Words matter. The narratives that shape our culture determines many of our social and political outcomes. If we do not take up the pen and use our voices, the stories of our time will celebrate those who seek to undermine our freedoms. I believe this deeply, because language and storytelling are the foundations of how we understand the world, and ourselves.
The antidote to a fearful story is simple, yet urgent: we must tell better stories. Stories that are truthful, courageous, hopeful, and inspiring. We must write narratives that give strength, foster optimism, and encourage action. Nihilism will only hasten the outcomes we fear most. Change is possible, but only if we act.
I wanted to share the impact we are having. This is both as a demonstration of our commitment and focus, but also as one of the best ways we can steward and honour your support.
At PILLAR we are telling and sharing the stories that shape New Zealand. We aim to speak into our culture with a voice that is empowering and optimistic. Being a Kiwi is something to cherish, and we want our public discourse to reflect that. So, how are we doing to tell this ‘better story’?
Thanks to your support, in just two months:
✅ Achieved over 1.2 MILLION social media views
✅ Reached around 3,000 engaged followers across social and owned media
✅ Become one of the largest New Zealand civil liberties organisations on Instagram!
✅ Earned 8 INTERNATIONAL media mentions, including but not limited to, Yahoo News, Reuters and USNews.
✅ Also had a total of 20 media mentions since inception and completed over 10 interviews, like on The Platform discussing the proposal to ban u16s from social media or on NewstalkZB discussing speech rights.
✅ We’ve even been invited to contribute to Parliament’s Online Harms Inquiry, recognized for offering practical, constructive solutions. That’s proof that our voice is being heard.
In our campaign to push for non-intrusive, privacy-respecting solutions to social media harms, we’ve also:
✅ Met with MPs, field experts, academics, and – crucially – the young people that would be impacted by U16 social media restriction (by the way, all 12 of them opposed such a blunt, heavy-handed ban!).
With our lean and focused team, we are laying the foundation for campaigns that matter and speak to issues affecting everyday Kiwis. But this is only the beginning.
Friend, we have bold ambitions. We aim to inspire a culture that cherishes freedom, encourages participation, and celebrates the values that make our country strong. Your support has made our voice possible, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
I look forward to updating you again in ten months, sharing the impact we’ve achieved together over a full year. Until then, we stay vigilant, hopeful, and active, because the hunter’s story will not prevail if the lions keep writing.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
