![]() ![]() Voices for Freedom founders Claire Deeks, Libby Johnson and Alia Bland. Other large costs included "bulk purchase (of) merchandise and clothing", putting on live events and the hosting of weekly web seminars. The group's website stated its "major undertakings" were the design, printing and distribution of two million flyers and large rally signs. "Funding is put towards the various projects we facilitate and the general running costs and overheads of the organisation.": On its website, it said it was funded through donations from "thousands of concerned Kiwis". In that time, it has repeatedly held fundraising drives and sold merchandise featuring the group's branding. Voices for Freedom has yet to post any accounts nine months after launching. None are true, or have become niche perversions of the truth. Those claims include myths such as the so-called United Nation "Agenda 21" and World Economic Forum "Great Reset" myths popularised in New Zealand by conspiracy theorist Billy Te Kahika Jr. Pennycook is also one of three founders of the Agricultural Action Group which pushes claims about secret world agendas. Those include Heather Meri Pennycook, who leads the Wanaka area chapter. Those identified by the Herald as involved in local Voices for Freedom groups illustrate its connections to other voices of opposition through involvement with other groups openly pushing extreme claims. In the broadcast today, Deeks said the loss of the Facebook page had cost Voices for Freedom the main avenue through which people came to know of the group.ĭeeks said the group had 50 local groups across New Zealand and 2000 people tuned in to hear Hodkinson. The group now occupies space in lesser-known social media channels that were also popular with right-wing communities, including white supremacists. Voices for Freedom lost its Facebook page after it was found to have breached the company's guidelines around making "false claims which public health experts have advised us could lead to Covid-19 vaccine rejection". They have also provided a portal for New Zealand medical doctors who clashed with public health officials by offering unlikely treatments or assessments as to the pandemic's seriousness that appear at odds with facts. They include Dr Sucharit Bhakdi, a microbiologist who has made repeated false claims about Covid-19, and German-American lawyer Dr Reiner Fuellmich, who has blamed the pandemic on elites trying to control the world. ![]() One Kapiti Coast resident who found the pamphlet in her letterbox described the discovery as "kind of horrifying". Voices for Freedom has not responded to Herald questions about the pamphlet drop. The Herald has fact-checked the claims which are either not true or misrepresentations of the truth. ![]() The pamphlet then lists nine claims about Covid-19 or the public response to it. The "censorship" claim could be a reference to social and traditional media companies limiting the spread of false information about Covid-19 to avoid damage to public health. "The harsh reality is that critical data and facts are being censored countrywide in an effort to prevent you from thinking for yourself." The pamphlet tells people: "If your 'common sense detector' is telling you that NZ's covid narrative doesn't add up - congratulations. The Herald has seen copies of pamphlets distributed in two areas of Wellington at least 30 minutes drive from each other on empty lockdown roads. Pamphlets attacking Covid-19 public health advice with the logo and branding of the Voices for Freedom group have been distributed during lockdown. A Voices for Freedom video conference for members with (from top left) founder Alia Bland, founder Libby Johnson, Canadian pathologist Dr Roger Hodkinson and founder Claire Deeks.
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