A group of controversial pick-up artists have cancelled their New Zealand and Australia series of events.
Real Social Dynamics (RSD), a group affiliated with self-proclaimed pick-up artist Julien Blanc, has taken down the series of live events – including one in Auckland in April – from its 2016 tour schedule.
It had planned to bring RSD instructor Jeff Allen down under to teach men "how to attract the women you've always wanted".
The seminars reportedly teach men to choke women into submission and mentally abuse them.
However, the Australian shows have been cancelled after Allen had his visa denied on character grounds, Fairfax Media reports.
Their techniques have been criticised as "shocking and appalling" and encouraging violence towards women.
The group tweeted it had "no intention of hosting any live events in New Zealand".
"The rumours spreading around the media are completely false."
However, when a screenshot of the Australian and Oceania tour scheduled was tweeted at them – including the Auckland show – the group responded saying it was "not valid".
"All the events have been canceled (sic)."
Women's Refuge NZ had started a campaign to stop the tour, using the hashtag #NoYouAreBloodyNot.
The father of Kiwi Emily Longley, choked to death by her ex-boyfriend, has also spoken out against the group.
"Some of their messages around choking women and using physical dominance to control just sound absolutely shocking and appalling," Mr Longley told RadioLIVE.
"It's not the kind of message we're trying to promote in New Zealand, we're trying very strongly to move away from that kind of thing here."
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