Festival Drops DJ For Staying Silent On Gaza
by Free Speech Union · SCOOPTwisted Frequency, a New Year music festival in Golden Bay, has cancelled Israeli DJ Dekel because he has not spoken out against Israel.
The festival says it was told Dekel had been a commander in the Israeli Defence Force and had performed in Israel in recent years. When it heard this, it contacted his management to cancel the booking.
It says it also tried to find evidence about his views, and found nothing "verified and substantial" about his personal beliefs. It went ahead with cancelling him anyway, saying "the fact he hasn't spoken out against the genocide in Palestine and has continued to perform in Israel is all that is needed".
The festival says a country of origin alone isn't a reason to boycott a musician. But without a public statement from Dekel against the "ongoing occupation and genocide", it would not host him.
Free Speech Union Executive Director Jillaine Heather says the festival cancelled first and looked for evidence second, and when it found none, it relied on his silence.
"Requiring an artist to declare a political position before he can perform is compelled speech. It treats silence as guilt."
"Twisted Frequency is a private festival. It can choose its own line-up, fly whatever flag it likes and say what it thinks about Gaza, and we'd defend its right to do all of that."
However, the festival has also taken public money. In June, Creative New Zealand announced a $10,000 grant to Twisted Frequency from its general arts fund "towards strategic planning, governance development and financial resilience".
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Creative New Zealand is required by law to support the arts "for the benefit of all New Zealanders" and to recognise "the cultural diversity of the people of New Zealand".
"We've asked Creative New Zealand a simple question: is a political test for artists consistent with the public money it hands out?" says Heather.
The festival says it should have investigated and "would have ruled out booking him in the first place", and that it is reviewing its processes and introducing new measures.
“Will performers now be vetted for their politics before they’re booked?” says Heather. “Will a Russian DJ have to denounce the war in Ukraine, or an American DJ their President? Once silence is grounds for cancellation, there’s no obvious place to stop.”
The Free Speech Union has today written to Twisted Frequency and Creative New Zealand. We have asked the festival whether its new measures will apply to artists from other countries, and whether crew, volunteers, traders or ticket holders will also be expected to hold or declare particular beliefs. We have asked Creative New Zealand what its funding agreements say about how recipients treat artists.
"Artists should be booked for their music. Nobody should have to pass a political test to get on stage in New Zealand."
Notes:
Twisted Frequency runs from 30 December to 3 January at Cobb Valley Road, Upper Tākaka. The Free Speech Union could not find any company, incorporated society or trust registered under the festival's name on the New Zealand Business Number register.
The Human Rights Act 1993 lists political opinion as a prohibited ground of discrimination, and defines it to include "the lack of a particular political opinion or any political opinion".
References:
1. NZ Herald, "Golden Bay New Year's festival cuts act over Israel performances and lack of support for Palestine", 30 October 2026. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/golden-bay-new-years-festival-cuts-act-over-israel-performances-and-lack-of-support-for-palestine/V2XGTLMS2NGR5JEFLVI5SRLREA/
2. Psymedia, "Twisted Frequency Festival Drops Israeli DJ Dekel Over Lack of Public Political Statement", 28 October 2026. https://psymedia.co.za/twisted-frequency-festival-drops-israeli-dj-dekel-over-lack-of-public-political-statement/
3. Creative New Zealand, Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups 2026, results posted 25 June 2026. https://creativenz.govt.nz/funding-and-support/results/funding-rounds/development-fund-for-arts-organisations-and-groups-2026
4. Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 2014, s 3. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2014/1/en/latest/
5. Human Rights Act 1993, s 21(1)(j). https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/82/en/latest/
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