Three anti-hate speech protesters and a dog called Ted stood in fog and drizzle to greet more than 100 people as they arrived just before 7pm on Thursday to listen to Julian Batchelor’s anti-co-governance roadshow and his stance on Treaty of Waitangi partnership policies.
Mr Batchelor, of Auckland, objects to Māori and the government working in partnership.
He said during the meeting he was triggered to campaign by Bay of Islands Māori attempts to assert rights to land he had bought in their area.
During his tour of the South, Scouts NZ shut down a meeting in Dunedin, and Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan told Mr Batchelor and his entourage they were not welcome in Balclutha.
Outside The Venue Wanaka, the three protesters bore placards under the watchful eye of Sergeant Darren Cranfield, of Wanaka.
One — whom the Otago Daily Times did not get an opportunity to approach and identify — left before halftime, after a heated verbal exchange with Mr Batchelor and some people in the audience.
When the protester approached Mr Batchelor to admonish him about his attitude to Māori, the bulk of the audience began chanting "out, out, out", while a woman directed the protester towards the door.
The protester asked Mr Batchelor what he meant when he referred to "good Māori".
A woman in the audience answered that question.
"A polite and respectful person who believes in free speech," she shouted, while another shouted the protester was himself "racist" and a "hypocrite".
