Good Faith Yarns Whangarei
Description
The Free Speech Union New Zealand is proud to present the Good Faith Yarns Tour!
This winter, the Free Speech Union New Zealand is hitting the road. The Good Faith Yarns Tour brings honest, good-faith conversation to ten communities across the country, including the regional centres that so often get left out of the national conversation. With a general election on the horizon, public debate is getting louder and more polarised. We want to do something different.
Co-governance. Race-based policy. Who gets a say in local democracy, and who doesn't. These questions are nowhere more live than in Northland, where they're playing out in real time at the council table.
Joining Ani O'Brien is Davina Smolders, an ACT councillor on the Far North District Council who has been at the centre of some of the most contested local government debates in the country. She's not here to be diplomatic. She's here to be honest.
📍Cobham Orval, 79 Okara Drive, Whangārei 0110
📅 Monday 27th July 2026
🕐 6:30pm-8:00pm
🎙️ Guest Speaker: Davina Smoulders
Speakers
Ani O’Brien
Ani O'Brien is one of New Zealand's most fearless political voices. A writer, commentator, and Free Speech Union Board Member, she's known for holding views that cut across conventional political lines and saying what others won't. Expect honesty, not headlines.
Davina Smolders
Davina Smolders is an elected Councillor for the Far North District Council and a strong advocate for transparency, accountability, and democratic decision making in local government. With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across social services, governance, procurement, and public sector management, she brings a practical, solutions-focused perspective to complex community issues. Since entering local government, Davina has become a prominent voice on issues including rates, infrastructure, race-based policies, co-governance, governance reform, public transparency, property rights, and community representation. Her work has attracted national media attention, with appearances on major radio programmes, podcasts, and current affairs platforms across New Zealand. Known for asking difficult questions and challenging established processes, Davina is passionate about ensuring councils focus on delivering core services, respecting ratepayers, protecting democratic principles, and remaining accountable to the communities they serve.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
