Helen Joyce identifies the exact mechanism behind self-censorship in New Zealand. You don't need to silence everyone: You just need to make very public examples of a few people – and everyone else learns the lesson. This is why the Ia Tangata report's reliance on the NZ Bill of Rights Act isn't enough. The report acknowledges free speech concerns but offers no explicit protection. By the time someone's case reaches the courts, they've already: • Lost their job or professional standing • Endured