1 8 ▁M asse y ▁University ▁talk ▁and ▁free ▁speech ▁On ▁ 7 ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁M asse y ▁University ▁Vice - Ch an cell or ▁Jan ▁Thomas ▁cancel led ▁Br ash ' s ▁talk ▁scheduled ▁for ▁the ▁next ▁day ▁at ▁the ▁university ' s ▁Pal mer ston ▁North ▁campus . ▁She ▁c ited ▁safety ▁issues ▁regarding ▁Br ash ' s ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁controvers ial ▁alt - right ▁Canadian ▁activ ists ▁La uren ▁Southern ▁and ▁Stefan ▁Mol y ne ux ' s ▁A uck land ▁tour ▁and ▁his ▁leadership ▁of ▁the ▁Hob son ' s ▁P ledge ▁advoc acy ▁group , ▁which ▁has ▁advoc ated ▁the ▁abol ition ▁of ▁the ▁M ā ori ▁w ards . ▁She ▁said ▁too ▁she ▁" supported ▁free ▁speech ▁on ▁campus , ▁but ▁totally ▁opposed ▁hate ▁speech ". ▁ ▁Br ash ▁critic ised ▁her ▁decision ▁as ▁a ▁threat ▁to ▁free ▁speech . ▁The ▁can cellation ▁was ▁critic ised ▁by ▁various ▁public ▁figures ▁including ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Jac inda ▁Ar dern , ▁Education ▁Minister ▁Chris ▁H ip kins , ▁O pp osition ▁Le ader ▁Simon ▁Br id ges , ▁and ▁M asse y ▁University ▁Stud ents ' ▁Association ▁President ▁Ben ▁Schmidt , ▁and ▁A CT ▁party ▁leader ▁David ▁Se ym our . ▁In ▁addition , ▁several ▁M ā ori ▁M embers ▁of ▁Parliament ▁including ▁Green ▁Party ▁co - le ader ▁Mar ama ▁David son ▁and ▁Labour ▁MP ▁Will ie ▁Jackson ▁def ended ▁Br ash ' s ▁right ▁to ▁free ▁speech ▁while ▁express ing ▁disag re