A controversial self-described 鈥渨omen鈥檚 rights campaigner鈥 has warned 鈥渞evoke my visa at your peril鈥 after Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he听.
The PM鈥檚 comments follow a statement from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) that it would be reviewing whether Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, would be allowed to enter the country for her听Let Women Speak听tour this weekend after a similar event in Melbourne drew support from masked members of the far-right performing Nazi salutes.
Keen-Minshull has widely criticised policies that support the transgender community and has been labelled as an anti-trans activist.
In a video posted to YouTube, Keen-Minshull, addressing the PM, said: 鈥淟et me just tell you this. Revoke my visa at your peril. Let鈥檚 see what happens when you stop a woman who is a women鈥檚 rights campaigner, when you stop her from being able to come and facilitate the speech of women in your country.
鈥滻t鈥檚 totally unfathomable that people will be so afraid of us talking,鈥 she added.
鈥漎ou鈥檙e going to make women angry, you鈥檙e gonna make people that care about women angry - and eventually that tsunami is gonna rain down upon you,鈥 she warned.
鈥淪o Chris Hipkins, roll the dice, my friend. I don鈥檛 think you鈥檒l dare to keep me from coming into New Zealand.鈥
Posie Parker (Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull) describes herself as a women's rights campaigner but critics have described her views as anti-transgender. Photo / Getty Images
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the AM Show he would not intervene or get involved in the matter of granting entry to Keen-Minshull.
鈥滻t鈥檚 a matter for the officials,鈥 he said. 鈥漌hether someone is of good character to enter NZ or not, is not up to me.鈥
Hipkins said he believed in responsible free speech.
鈥漃eople are allowed to express their views and oppose those they don鈥檛 agree with.鈥 However, he did not agree with 鈥渋nciting violence.
鈥滾aw has a clear line on what you can鈥檛 do and I respect that.鈥
Keen-Minshull鈥檚 latest YouTube video also contained a warning to media in New Zealand about defamation and said 鈥渘othing would please me more鈥 than suing outlets who describe her as anti-trans, a description she claimed was misogynistic.
Keen-Minshull told the听贬别谤补濒诲听yesterday听she hadn鈥檛 heard from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) but was aware of its review.
鈥淚 find [the review] absolutely Orwellian, insane. I would agree with [Hipkins], I condemn free speech when it鈥檚 used to silence women, for example when people say men can be women,鈥 she said.
鈥淔ree speech is a difficult principle to uphold and I fundamentally uphold it.鈥
Police are also gearing up for Keen-Minshull鈥檚 planned events, telling the听Herald听that officers would be present to monitor and respond to any issues that may arise.
鈥淎nd to minimise disruption to the wider public.鈥
And Keen-Minshull told the听贬别谤补濒诲听she was 鈥渄elighted鈥 police would be present - claiming pro-trans activists who turned up to her events posed a threat to her attendees.
She denied her supporters posed a similar risk and claimed: 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a single woman who ever attended any of my events and has been the aggressor. Middle-aged women asking for their rights are not going and intimidating anyone on the opposing side.鈥
But when pressed on the presence of people at her events giving Nazi salutes, Keen-Minshull said: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e absolutely not associated with me whatsoever.
鈥淚 absolutely abhor anything to do with Nazis. It鈥檚 preposterous they even exist in 2023.鈥
Members of a neo-Nazi group attended the Melbourne leg of the tour and performed the Nazi salute. Photo / NCA 九一星空无限Wire
Immigration NZ general manager Richard Owen told the听Herald听Keen-Minshull is the holder of British passport, which enables her to travel to New Zealand for a temporary visit without the need to apply for a visa in advance.
鈥淚nstead, all visa-waiver nationals who wish to visit New Zealand must apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).鈥
Owen said in completing an NZeTA application the applicant must declare any previous convictions or removals/exclusions from other countries. On arrival, the holder of an NZeTA applies for a visa to enter New Zealand.
He confirmed Keen-Minshull is the holder of an NZeTA.
鈥淚NZ is now reviewing whether, in the light of the events at the weekend, Ms Keen-Minshull is still able to travel to New Zealand on the basis of the NZeTA that she holds without obtaining a visa first.鈥
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau told 九一星空无限 Keen-Minshull鈥檚 views are strongly condemned and unwelcome in Wellington.
Whanau said although she cannot ban Keen-Minshull from speaking, she will support a counter-protest against her.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau. Photo / Mark Mitchell
鈥淲ellington is known as a diverse community that celebrates its rainbow and trans wh膩nau,鈥 she said.
鈥淗er views are certainly not welcome.
鈥淭hese views are dangerous and harmful for our community, and I am worried people are being so open about hating part of our community.
鈥淲e know with our trans wh膩nau there is quite a high suicide rate and that鈥檚 because they are made to feel less than human 鈥 views that will be heard this weekend contribute to that.
鈥淚t is grotesque and disappointing that it鈥檚 here in our city.鈥
Last week the Green Party said the Government should stop the anti-transgender activist from visiting New Zealand.
Green immigration spokesman Ricardo Menendez-March told RNZ the Government needed to consider the security risks to New Zealanders.
鈥淚 do think we should be considering whether her arrival to Aotearoa could pose a security risk for our communities and the repercussions that it could have when it comes to galvanising the far right.鈥
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