But a petition opposing the visit of Clementine Ford has been given short shrift by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, who said it verged on hate speech itself.
Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival programme director Claire Finlayson confirmed the festival was taking ''precautionary measures'' because of an online petition opposing the visit of Ford to both the Dunedin and Christchurch festivals.
Ford's outspoken views have been controversial for some.
Her latest book, Boys Will Be Boys, focuses on toxic masculinity and how boys are ''socialised by the patriarchy''.
''We're just trying to make sure our guests feel comfortable, really,'' Ms Finlayson said of the increased security.
The petition calls on central and local government figures, including Mr Cull, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters to stop Ford's visit.
It says Ford's ''influence and violence incitement'' against men could have a detrimental impact on New Zealanders' health.
Ms Finlayson said the petition had uptake ''within certain kinds of echo chambers on social media''.
Ms Ford's comments had been taken out of context and used to ''de-platform'' her.
''We're aware of that, and we're just wanting to make her trip here comfortable, really.''
Mr Cull went further in an email response to the change.org petition.
The petition raised Twitter posts Ford has made, which it said promoted ''gendercide of men''.
''I will be ignoring your 'petition','' Mr Cull wrote.
''Your campaign is one of misinformation and verges on hate speech itself.
''The tweets used by many of those seeking to discredit Clementine Ford have spun so far out from their original context that they've taken on a different and warped life.''
He said Ford advocated for a world without violence, one in which men were not bound by rigid codes of masculinity.
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Comments
The Intolerant and Illiberal Left being hoist by its own petard (think Don Brash, Molyneaux and Southern, Jordan Petersen, et al). Unsurprisingly, Cull doesn't see the irony...
Still a bad idea though. Let the woman speak, so that her barking ideas can be exposed to public scrutiny.
Coker, I doubt Cull sees the irony, because there isn't any.
These men might not like what she has to say, but she isn't inciting violence or spouting hate speech, and therefore there are no grounds to shut her ideas down. Others however, have walked a lot closer to the wire and have deserved to be shut down, for the harm they are encouraging.
It's not rocket science, but as always, the devil is in the detail.
I ve read some of her articles and don t personally have a problem with her but we need to be cautious about applying double standards here. She is a stirrer and invites controversy to boost her profile in a very similar way to Lauren Southern (the its Ok to be white girl) who was effectively booted out last year.
I really don't care if Ms Ford visits and lectures or not. She will only be heard by her followers and those already indoctrinated to her views.
But it does once again show the hypocrisy of some left wing commentators. They vehemently oppose ultra right wing speakers in the name of opposing hate speech. But ultra left wing exponents are purported to be messiahs and geniuses.
Hate speech is hate speech, no matter what the views of the extremist are. Calls to violence are just that. Despite some attempted spin, incitement to violence can not be tolerated and it is never taken out of context.
Clementine Ford writes.
The Far Right Attack. Remember March 15?
I have read the petition and it contains all facts and evidence, there is no hate speech as claimed by David Cull. She has a history of inciting violence and specifically against men. Ms Finlayson said that her comments and violence incitment are taken out of contest ? hmmmmm. What if a man incites killing women on social media ? how would she respond ? I support this petition and i think its very constructive. Inciting violence is a crime under our laws and she should be held accountable.
Don't write, 'bete noir' of Australian men!
We're just like them, Blue.