Canadian Right-wing speakers' Auckland tour is on, with a new venue

Thursday, 26 July 2018

Lauren Southern will visit Auckland with Stefan Molyneux

The promoter for controversial Right-wing Canadian speakers Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern says the pair will visit Auckland after all.

'It was never off', Axiomatic Event's David Pellowe told Stuff from Australia.

The pair will speak at a still-secret venue in Auckland, which will be disclosed to ticket holders by text or email with 24 hours notice.

'Dozens of people around the country have been suggesting venues, some offering, and we've taken an appropriately suitable one,' Pellowe said.

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The visit was thought to have been cancelled after a spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition, Jordan Williams, said on Wednesday that time had run out to arrange a venue.

The coalition had joined Axiomatic to seek an urgent judicial review of the cancellation by an Auckland Council agency of the booking for Molyneux and Southern to speak at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna next Friday.

That urgent hearing scheduled for Monday was withdrawn by the coalition after correspondence with the council.

Tickets have gone on sale on Axiomatic's website, ranging from $99 general admissions, through to a Meet and Greet at $299 or a dinner with the pair for $749.

Pellowe said the short-notice advice of venues was a tactic they had used in Australia, with Perth ticket holders hearing as late as midday where they should go in the evening.

If the August 3 event sold out, a further session might be staged, he said.

He said he would liaise with police, as was done wherever the pair spoke.

Police told Stuff they were not yet aware of any details.

'It is the preference for NZ Police to work with event organisers to ensure there are adequate security measures,' police said in a statement.

The pair have generated controversy through their views on faith and immigration, and prior to the council's move the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand had asked that they be denied visas.

Auckland Council's decision to cancel their booking for next week was based on safety and security grounds, but a subsequent tweet by Mayor Phil Goff left the impression he had stepped in.

That prompted the formation of the Free Speech Coalition which quickly raised $90,000 to mount legal action.

The coalition said while Monday's urgent hearing was no longer happening, it would challenge other aspects of the council's actions in court in September.

A statement released when the legal action was launched had said no other venues in Auckland were suitable or available.

Goff on Thursday said of the Canadians: 'They're free to speak at a private venue of their choosing.'