This fight is bigger than one real estate agent.
It is about whether New Zealanders can be forced to participate in ideological training as a condition of keeping their professional licence, regardless of their sincerely held beliefs.
As you may know, Janet Dickson lost her case before the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal after refusing to complete Te Kākano, a compulsory course she believed conflicted with her Christian convictions. Janet was also clear that this training had nothing to do with selling property. The Tribunal has upheld the regulator's decision, placing Janet's licence and livelihood at risk.
The Tribunal even went as far as to suggest she should have attended, listened, but not needed to believe a word being said.
So not only was she meant to play along and waste her time, but in effect, make nonsense of the instruction itself. It’s insulting to all parties involved.
However, after reviewing the Tribunal's decision, Janet's legal team believes there are strong grounds for an appeal to the High Court, identifying significant concerns with the way Janet’s fundamental rights and freedoms were treated.
Hobson’s Pledge have decided to continue backing Janet, but this appeal is so much bigger than just her. It is something that impacts on the rights and freedoms of every New Zealander.
At stake are two fundamental questions:
Can government-backed professional regulators compel people to undertake training that conflicts with their ethical, religious, or political convictions, and punish them if they refuse?
How much further should the growing influence of Te Ao Māori and tikanga be imposed on organisations and individuals without question?
Professional organisations, from the Real Estate Agents Authority to the Nursing Council, are coercing good, ordinary Kiwis to embrace concepts that have little relevance to their work, and calling them racist if they disagree.
The legal team supporting Janet, including Gary Judd KC, sees both these aspects as breaching fundamental tenets of our Bill of Rights.
So we have to go back to court. We have to stand up for these rights while we still have them, because if we do not stand and fight, things will get worse.
Already, with Janet’s case, we are being told that you just have to go along with political indoctrination from activist groups.
We are being told that your beliefs are irrelevant when contrary to Māori beliefs.
We are being told that organisations can be hijacked by activists determined to coerce you to view the Treaty in one way alone, and that this indoctrination is more important than the actual service you are meant to provide.
Failing to return to court effectively means accepting a New Zealand where Māori cultural values take precedence over all other beliefs, rights, and freedoms.
The legal advice is clear that this case raises important questions about freedom of conscience, protected under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, with implications that extend well beyond the real estate profession.
Importantly, Janet's lawyers believe the Tribunal adopted an unduly restrictive interpretation of the law and failed to properly engage with freedom of conscience concerns. Gary Judd KC has described the decision as "clearly wrong" and believes there are substantial grounds for appeal.
This appeal also supports the wider campaign to stop professional regulators policing people's beliefs.
But legal action comes at a cost. A high cost.
That is why we are asking for your help today.
Will you chip in to protect freedom of conscience today?
Your donation will help:
- Lodge and pursue the High Court appeal;
- Defend freedom of conscience and freedom from compelled ideology;
- Challenge the growing power of professional regulators to police people's beliefs;
- Keep public and political attention on this important issue;
- Support broader law reform that protects all New Zealand professionals;
- And, of course, protect Janet and those in a similar position.
Every New Zealander should be concerned when people can lose their professional standing because they refuse to participate in training they sincerely believe conflicts with their convictions.
Every New Zealander should be concerned that their basic rights and freedoms will be ignored if the issue at hand is one about the Treaty, tikanga, or Te Ao Māori.
This case will help define the future boundaries of freedom of conscience in New Zealand.
Please consider making a donation today.
Together, we can ensure this fight is heard in the High Court and continue pushing for a New Zealand where professionals are judged on their competence and conduct, not on their willingness to conform to ideological demands.
Donate now and help us defend freedom of conscience.
Thank you for standing with us.
