Exclusive: Patrick Gower takes on Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux

Canadian far-right speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux told Newshub's Patrick Gower their free speech has been "shut down". 

"This was not our plan for this evening," Ms Southern said, sitting alongside Mr Molyneux, shortly after their speaking event had been cancelled in Auckland. 

They were going to have a meet-and-greet, a dinner, a book signing and other activities, all of which were cancelled after the Powerstation - a venue in Eden Terrace - pulled out. 

"It's hard to know why the event was cancelled," Mr Molyneux told Gower, Newshub's national correspondent. He said the venue was sold out, and said there was "huge amounts of enthusiasm for who we were". 

Powerstation co-owner Peter Campbell told Newshub he had cancelled the event.

Mr Molyneux said the PowerStation owner was "enthusiastic" about them and the event, despite the owner previously telling Newhsub he only just found out about who they were. 

Powerstation co-owner Gabrielle Mullins told Stuff it wasn't clear it was the Canadian pair from the name on the booking, and that the minute the Powerstation found out who they were, the event was cancelled. 

One of the pair's supporters tweeted saying the venue had "caved to far-left terrorism". 

Mr Molyneux said the pair were welcomed in Australia, and wanted to have a constructive debate in New Zealand. But hundreds of people were set to rally against the Auckland visit on Friday. 

"There's polling done in this country which shows 70 percent of people think we have the right so speak," said Ms Southern, adding that she believes a powerful minority prevented their event from going ahead. 

The pair arrived at Auckland Airport on Thursday, and were photographed posing under a Māori carving in the Arrivals area. They were accused of disrespecting Māori culture. 

But Mr Molyneux said they were just joking around, saying the media doesn't "understand what humour is". He said somebody had said on Twitter that the Māori carving could act as a force field to keep them out. 

"Some people are offended by everything," Ms Southern told Gower. 

The pair said neither of them disagrees that people can't oppose their views. They said the ability to express different views is what has made the West "so great". 

But they argue it's not fair that they had paid for the venue and believe the event should have gone ahead. It was the Powerstation owners' choice not to go ahead with the event, they said, but that "doesn't mean it was the right choice".  

What action will they take?

Mr Molyneux said the pair will decide "as time goes on" what to do in retaliation to their event being cancelled in Auckland. 

"We are in a hurly-burly situation right now. This is the first time this has happened. Things are topsy-turvy right now," he said. 

"There are individuals that don't want us to be here, including in Government, and individuals have said they want to attack the event. If someone goes 180 in one hour, there are usually forces pushing them." 

Caolan Robertson, understood to be an agent for Ms Southern, told Newshub that "powerful forces" were opposed to the event. He said they could not find another venue and it was over. 

The pair had announced they would be using the venue as their event in an email then posted to Twitter. 

"We want to thank you for the incredible understanding and patience you've shown as we've had to keep the location of the venue secret for as long as possible," the email reads.

The pair's visit has been a source of controversy, with Mayor Phil Goff saying they weren't welcome in any council-owned venues in Auckland because of their history of racism and intolerance.

They initially cancelled the event (part of a travelling roadshow around Australia and New Zealand) when they were denied the use of a council venue, but later confirmed they would still be coming when their promoter found a private venue. 

Newshub.