Conservative Party
Conservative Party leader Helen Houghton has secured a significant public settlement with HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited over the inclusion of her name in Byron Clark’s book Fear: New Zealand’s Hostile Underworld of Extremists.
The settlement statement, now published on the HarperCollins website, acknowledges Ms Houghton’s objection to her inclusion in a chapter entitled “Women and the Alt Right”, which was also published online as an edited extract by the Spinoff in February 2023.
The statement records that Ms Houghton is “a champion of free speech, strong proponent of Christian and conservative values, recently qualified lawyer, and leader of the Conservative Party of New Zealand.”
Ms Houghton objected to the book because she believed the inclusion of her name, particularly in a chapter dealing with the so-called “Alt Right”, implied that she associated with or held the views of far-right extremists.
HarperCollins and Byron Clark have now publicly stated:
“HarperCollins and Byron Clark never intended to defame Ms Houghton and apologise to her for hurt and distress caused.”
A victory for the right to speak freely.
Ms Houghton says the settlement is about something much bigger than herself.
“This is a win for freedom of speech and for every New Zealander who believes that holding conservative, Christian or traditional values should not automatically result in being labelled an extremist,” Ms Houghton said.
“I have never accepted that advocating for strong families, personal responsibility, freedom of speech, limited government and Christian values makes someone an extremist.
Ms Houghton said she took action because labels matter.
“When someone's name is placed in a chapter about the ‘Alt Right’ and extremists, readers can reasonably draw conclusions about that person's beliefs and associations. I was not prepared to simply accept that implication.”
“I stood up for myself, but I also stood up for a principle. Conservatives should not be intimidated into silence because someone might attach a label to them.”
Standing up for conservative values
Ms Houghton said the outcome reinforces the importance of being prepared to defend freedom of expression.
“Conservatives believe that people should be free to express their political, religious and social views without being vilified or falsely associated with movements or ideologies they do not support.”
“We do not believe that freedom of speech belongs only to people whose opinions are politically acceptable at the time. It belongs to everyone.”
The settlement comes as Ms Houghton continues to lead the Conservative Party of New Zealand, advocating policies centred on strong families, individual responsibility, freedom, limited government and the protection of fundamental rights.
“You cannot claim to support freedom of speech while remaining silent when people are publicly characterised because of the political or social views they express,” Ms Houghton said.
“This is why I fought this matter. I will continue to speak, and I will continue to stand up for the right of others to speak too.”
The HarperCollins settlement statement
A settlement has been reached. Below is HarperCollins and Bryon Clark’s apology displayed publicly on the HarperCollins website here.
It confirms that the book was published in February 2023 and was a work of social and political commentary that included analysis of political parties, including the Conservative Party of New Zealand, then known as the New Conservative Party.
It records Ms Houghton’s objection to her inclusion and concludes with an apology from HarperCollins and Byron Clark for the hurt and distress caused.
For Ms Houghton, the message is clear: conservative voices have a right not to be made social pariahs.
[Editor’s note: Chris Lynch interviewed Helen Houghton.]
