Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern has said New Zealand is "hostile" towards the views of controversial alt-right speaking pair Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux.
Arriving in Wellington with new baby Neve and partner Clarke Gayford, Ms Ardern said she didn't support the views of Ms Southern and Mr Molyneux and was "proud" of the reaction of many New Zealanders.
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"I think you'll see from the reaction they've had from New Zealanders that their views are not those that are shared by this country, and I'm quite proud of that," she said.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Mr Molyneux declared New Zealand was hostile to free speech after the pair's speaking event was cancelled on Friday.
Ms Ardern responded on Saturday by saying "I think [New Zealand] is hostile to their views... Look, they are here because there were no grounds to block them being here. That does not mean we welcome their views."
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway called the pair's views "repugnant" in July, but they met immigration criteria and were granted temporary work visas.
"Immigration's decision in no way condones the views expressed by the pair, which are repugnant to this Government and run counter to the kind and tolerant values of the vast majority of New Zealanders," Mr Lees-Galloway said.
In Mr Molyneux's video, Ms Southern said the event's cancellation was symbolic of "what is happening in New Zealand and the crippling of free speech".
The gig was called off last minute by the owners of the Powerstation on Friday. The pair had claimed the venue was initially enthusiastic to have them.
Roughly 1000 protestors gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square on Friday night, celebrating the cancellation of the event, which they said had nothing to do with freedom of speech.
"If I'm really honest, the two fascists... helped make this happen because Auckland made it really clear tonight that those views aren't right," said Tamaki Anti-Fascist Action spokeswoman Sina Brown-David.
On Saturday morning, a small group of about 30 people gathered in Aotea Square to "stand for freedom of speech".
Newshub.
