Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says he would prefer it if the Stop Co-Governance tour did not stop in Ōamaru next week.

The New Zealand tour is being run by Christian evangelist Julian Batchelor, and has been running since mid-January. He will be speaking at the Ōamaru Club next Wednesday (5 July). 

The Stop Co-Governance website states the purpose of the tour is to raise awareness of the danger of co-governance, and to gather political support to stop it.

Controversy has plagued the tour with some venues cancelled, and claims of Māori being refused entry.

Radio New Zealand reported Māori were refused entry to a Blenheim meeting.

As Māori turned up at the meeting, which police attended, an attendee’s video showed a Pākehā man challenging Batchelor for refusing them entry.

"Why aren't they allowed in? They're Kiwis like us. If you're not letting them in, it's worse than I thought it was," the man said.

"Doesn't seem right to me mate. Your invitations went in every letterbox."

Julian Batchelor. PHOTO: Facebook.

Meanwhile, at the Cromwell meeting on Tuesday night (June 27), The Central App reported Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan had gone along, out of interest. 

He found entering the meeting intimidating after he was told he would be removed and trespassed if he spoke. He quietly left 20 minutes later.

“When I heard that our nation was at war with 1000 elite Māori, I couldn’t listen to anymore,” he said.

“He is spreading hatred, and using misinformation to fan that hatred.”

Gary said he would prefer the tour did not come to Ōamaru, but “we live in a free society”.

“Even if we disagree passionately about what someone has to say, they usually have the right to say it.”

The mayor would not be attending the event, saying he had “better things to do”.

“I have listened to what he has to say, and that’s enough for me.”

There was some confusion around the meaning of co-governance, and Gary said the Government “had a role to play in explaining co-governance to the public”, especially in relation to Three Waters reform.

“They didn't do that, so it is understandable that many don't really know what it means. 

“To me, it is about iwi Māori being part of decision-making processes. It isn't necessarily co-government though. 

“This is a difficult time, as we come to terms with aspects of co-governance, and I think the challenge for many people is the lack of context, more so in the South Island where we have had much less experience of co-governance.”

While Gary understood Julian Batchelor’s presence in Ōamaru might bother people, they were free to ignore him.

“I’ll make use of that freedom,” he said.

“Freedom of speech is an important tenet of our society, and freedom to ignore speech is also important. I encourage people to become informed and make up their own minds on issues.”