Auckland Council has welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision that the cancellation of an event featuring far-right Canadians Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern at the Bruce Mason Centre was lawful.
The controversial pair planned to speak at the venue during their 2018 trip to New Zealand but it was derailed when Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) cancelled their venue booking due to "security concerns" around the "health and safety" of the presenters, staff and patrons of the event.
The cancellation was backed at the time by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who said Auckland Council shouldn't have to "provide a venue for hate speech".
A judicial review was launched into the decision seeking confirmation that cancelling the event was lawful as it didn't take into account the true security risk of the event, and that the decision was driven by Goff.
On Tuesday the Court of Appeal backed the High Court's decision, finding the RFA acted lawfully in deciding to cancel the use of the Bruce Mason Centre by Molyneux and Southern.
Goff said in a statement he was pleased with the outcome.
"I personally find the views of the two speakers despicable, but this decision was about whether RFA acted lawfully or not - the Court has found that it did," he said.
"Following their second defeat in court, I hope those who continue to push this legal action finally get the message and stop appealing because it is costing ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary legal fees."
Molyneux and Southern have previously sparked outrage for their far-right views.
Southern was banned from entering the United Kingdom after displaying flyers reading "Allah is a Gay God" and "Allah is trans", in a stunt she claimed proved Islam is homophobic.
She has also called Black Lives Matter a terrorist group, claimed Islam is dangerous and believed diversity is a weakness.
She retreated from the public eye in late 2019, the Guardian reported, so she could look for fulfilment in "a more private capacity".
Molyneux has also shared his views in videos posted online, including arguing some races are genetically superior to others, and mothers are responsible for men who grow up to be violent.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry also revealed the gunman in the 2019 Christchurch terror attack donated $138.89 to a podcast and YouTube channel by Molyneux.
