Following the Easter Rising in 1916 in Ireland, Irish Republicans living in New Zealand who supported Irish nationalism formed organisations in solidarity and to promote the Irish republican cause. In Dunedin they formed the "Maoriland Irish Society" and published a radical monthly magazine called "The Green Ray". This fell foul of wartime regulations and was supressed in 1918. Wartime regulations which had introduced censorship regulations limited freedom of speech. Many publications written by socialists, pacifists and Irish republicans were banned. Some people were upset with the loss of 'freedom of speech'.  Those who continued to speak out against the war or was though of as undermining the war effort were arrested and imprisoned for sedition.

The Editor of 'The Green Ray" Thomas Cummins was jailed for sedition. The primary document in the photo is a letter written by him from prison. If you look closely you can see the censor marks deleting parts of his letter.

This is in an exhibition in the city of Dunedin at Toitū (Otago Settlers Museum) which explores the stories of enlistment and departure, conscientious objection and conscription, the horrors and honours of war. In one section titled “Dissenters” they present primary documents on those who refused to fight.