It has come to the attention of many who hold T&T in considerable esteem that a situation of some public note has arisen involving one of your long-serving team members and their forthright expression concerning a prominent, and indeed, often polarising, public figure.

We understand that navigating the complexities of employee conduct, public perception, and corporate responsibility is an intricate dance. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that the true character and underlying principles of an organisation like T&T, so interwoven with the fabric of Aotearoa, are most clearly illuminated.

The individual in question, a senior citizen who has dedicated years of service, chose to articulate a perspective – robustly, it is said, but a perspective nonetheless – on matters that reside firmly in the public square. Political discourse, even when it becomes impassioned or uncomfortable, is a vital sign of a healthy, engaged populace. Indeed, when public figures themselves employ language that many citizens find, shall we say, uniquely challenging or designed to denigrate, it is perhaps not entirely unexpected that responses in kind, born of genuine conviction, will follow from those who feel the sting of such rhetoric, directly or by proxy.

Reports suggesting that T&T might consider punitive action against this employee for exercising what many would see as a fundamental expression of political opinion have, understandably, caused a ripple of concern. One might reflect: is it the role of an employer, particularly one as significant as T&T, to arbitrate the boundaries of political commentary made by a citizen, especially when that commentary appears to be a reaction to already provocative public statements?

The wisdom inherent in allowing such expressions, even if they lack diplomatic polish, often lies in understanding the context and the sentiment from which they spring. To penalise an individual for reflecting a widely-held, if bluntly stated, frustration could be perceived by the broader community not as upholding professional standards, but perhaps as an overreach; a move that inadvertently aligns T&T with the silencing of dissent, rather than with the robust, sometimes untidy, spirit of free expression that New Zealanders value so dearly.

The public, your customers, your stakeholders – they observe. They will naturally form their own conclusions about an organisation that chooses to discipline an employee for speaking truth to power, as they see it, especially when that power has itself been less than temperate in its own utterances. The goodwill T&T has cultivated over years is a precious asset. It would be a profound misstep, many believe, to see it diminished by actions that could be interpreted as prioritising political expediency or the sensitivities of the powerful over the principled stand of a long-standing employee.

We trust that T&T, in its deliberations, will consider not just the immediate matter, but the broader implications for its reputation as an equitable employer and a respected New Zealand institution. True leadership often involves the courage to withstand pressure and to recognise when a perceived slight is, in fact, a reflection of deeper societal currents. The path that affirms our shared values of fairness and free speech is surely the one that will best serve T&T, and all of us, in the long run.

With sincere anticipation of a judicious and principled outcome,

Many Concerned Citizens and Advocates for Free Expression in Aotearoa