The AM Show host Duncan Garner has come out swinging against a proposed "racist" event with boxing champion Joseph Parker at Whanganui High School.
The motivational speaking session would be for male Māori and Pasifika students, and their dads only, but this segregation has left parents outraged, with complaints of racism and sexism.
On Tuesday, Garner launched a flurry of verbal blows against the event.
"How can you exclude people on race?" he asked. "How can you exclude them?
"It's wrong. With every bone in my body, this is wrong.
"If there are Pākehā students - and there are - who want to go to this session with Joseph Parker - a motivational session - then they should be allowed."
Garner questioned if children would be forced to show their birth certificate to prove they're Māori and Pasifika before being allowed entry.
"What a joke," he argued. "That is racism."
Garner then read out responses to the scandal from The AM Show's audience - including one comment that called it "appalling".
"There are a hell of a lot of underprivileged white people in Whanganui," the response read.
"In this day and age, when everyone is yelling about equality, racism and fairness, how in their right mind did the powers that be think this would ever be ok."
Parker has come out saying he did not know it was an exclusive event and that he was "really disappointed". He is reportedly considering cancelling the event.
"Good on you, Joseph, that's the mark of you as a man," Garner said approvingly.
Newshub.
