Last weekend, Stuff ran a “special report” on Voices for Freedom and our growing influence in the local government elections. Framed as a warning, it instead confirmed what we already know: we’ve built a durable grassroots network, fielding credible candidates and commanding national attention.
The essential claim of the report was that VFF-connected candidates are “hiding” links by talking about rates, rubbish, water, roads, and local planning. But every candidate has affiliations: whether to political parties or other organisations such as Grey Power, Residents’ Associations, Federated Farmers, Forest & Bird. To single out ours is a clear double standard.
Sunday Star Times Article, Sunday 28 September 2025
In any case, the “exposé” backfired. Social media responses were overwhelmingly supportive: the public saw through it.
Similarly, at a recent candidate meeting, a “gotcha” question about VFF flashed on the big screen. Instead of undermining anyone, it only proved our impact.
And just last week in a big West Auckland Facebook group (30,000+ members, notorious for brutal commentary), someone tried to smear a candidate by linking them to VFF. The response? Overwhelming pushback. The majority of comments read along the lines of: “Thanks for showing me who to vote for.”
Times have changed. The mainstream media and their hangers-on are stuck in 2022 thinking, still trying to cast us as the monsters under the bed. But their reality distortion field is cracking, and in the process, they’re only making fools of themselves.
A selection of RCR interviews with local body candidates incumbents.
A few key reminders as we head into the final stretch: RCR is leading the way in covering local body candidates across the country in a meaningful way. The MSM might obsess over mayoral dramas, but they ignore the rest. You can find our coverage here.
Huge respect to everyone who put their hand up to stand, and to the many supporting campaigns — hammering in hoardings, organising events, handing out flyers. It all matters.
Attempts to “expose” candidates backfire. Just like in 2022, lists of supposed VFF-linked candidates are actually driving voters towards them. If you’re standing and want ideas for how to respond to these questions, download our helpful PDF.
Want to dig deeper? Check out Garry Robertson’s series on the problems with council governance: Read here.
And don’t forget: our documentaries, like Managed Out, are shifting council-level conversations across the country. Together, we’re equipping Kiwis with facts, context, and courage. Watch here.
What’s next? Our Candidate Survey launches [today], helping you cut through the noise and make an informed vote.
Lounge Edition Webinar: Thursday, 8pm. We will unpack the media coverage, the local body elections, and what comes next.
And finally: change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built conversation by conversation, action by action. If we sit back, tune out, and hope someone else will fix it, things will get worse. Radical responsibility is the only way forward, and every action creates a ripple.
Claire Deeks, Co-founder
As mentioned, we will be saying more about the Far Left Stuffers and their nasty campaign after the election. —Eds