Stop Co-Governance meeting canned as protesters accuse organisers of racism

A Stop Co-Governance roadshow has been met with anger from protesters who claim the event is racist.

Evangelist Julian Batchelor’s speaking tour, which is heading to Paraparaumu for its next stop Monday evening, criticises Māori MPs, the Treaty of Waitangi and iwi.

He had booked the Queen St Chapel in Levin on Thursday to hold a public talk, but it was cancelled after organisers clashed with a group who were declined entry.

A heated exchange took place with protesters outside accusing organisers of only excluding Māori.

READ MORE:
* What is co-governance? Panellists at community discussion don’t seem to know
* New venue kept secret as anti co-governance roadshow hits Bay of Plenty
* Anti co-governance tour books Taupō’s Great Lake Centre

Police were called to the venue after reports of protest activity “inside and outside” but no arrests were made, a spokesperson said.

“Protestors were compliant and responsive to police. Staff asked the organisers if they would like police to remain to assist with the meeting going ahead, however the offer was declined.”

Videos of the incident had since circulated social media and showed a tense confrontation between those attending the meeting and those who were excluded.

Church trustee and Levin businessman David Hill could be seen speaking to the crowd, many of which he knew personally.

He told them police were coming and they were not allowed in because of their “tone”.

However, after several minutes some people were able to get inside and a physical altercation broke out.

A distressed lady could be heard saying “get your hands off me”, while others called her a b**** and told her to “shut up” and “sit down”.

In front of large signs that read ‘Preserve Democracy: Stop Co-Governance’ and ‘Say No To Apartheid’, Batchelor told the mostly older crowd of about 80 people he was unable to begin “such a great event” until police removed the protesters.

“We’ll just wait … so talk amongst yourselves.”

He said he was a teacher by trade and hundreds of people had been turning up to his shows.

The event was a “private meeting” in a hall he paid for and protesters were ruining attendees’ right to free speech, he said.

The talk was eventually postponed until Friday, but protesters were again waiting outside and it was canned.

Batchelor said he cancelled the event because he was not prepared to “reward bad behaviour”.

He said a group of 30 to 40 protesters were “loud and obnoxious” and shoved event security.

“You’re not going to have the privilege of hearing what I have to say if you didn’t get legal entry.”

He would not explain how someone got an invite to one of his events, but said “Levin was pretty much a full house, it was a great turn out”.

He said he was not racist, and was expecting his next event to be a “whopper”. He would also return to Levin.

Hill said he was surprised at what occurred, but it would not happen again “under his watch”.

He said the decision to hold the event was made by trustees, but after the incident on Thursday he advised them to cancel Friday’s meeting.

“I told them I won’t be supporting it…and they agreed.”

He said he was not racist and attended the event as a trustee, but “was pushed outside” when things became heated.

“I was basically thrown under the bus.”

It was not the first time Batchelor’s roadshow had caused a stir.

An event on May 17 in Havelock North was cancelled after the venue said “no amount of security could control the level of noise or protest activity expected”.

A talk in Rotorua on April 30 was also canned and a previous stop in Orewa saw police needed to separate counter-protesters from attendees.

Batchelor said they had several shows lined up, including 20 in the South Island.