The head of Auckland University's Debating Society says he's pleased with how a debate hosting Don Brash went on Thursday night after it was disrupted by protestors.
The demonstration came after his planned speech at Massey University was cancelled by the vice chancellor due to security fears, after threatening comments were made online.
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The cancellation was criticised as an attack on free speech, and the Auckland University debate was organised in response. It focused on whether "PC culture" has gone too far in society.
Chris Ryan told The AM Show once everything had calmed down and protestors had left it was hard to choose a winner between the two opposing sides, but free speech won out on the day.
"When we created the debate we wanted to get people talking about the big issues in society," he said.
"I think freedom of speech is definitively after recent events a big issue and I think we only benefit from talking about it."
Mr Ryan said he believes Dr Brash got a much larger platform out of the controversy than if he had been allowed to attend the Massey event.
But the protestors had a right to make themselves known at the Auckland University debate.
"I think that their argument was that they didn't want Don Brash speaking on campus and that they felt his perspective was an exclusionary one," Mr Ryan said.
"I think that it's fine that they were at the debate and sharing their perspective."
Newshub.
