‘Fake history’ talk to go ahead with securing of venue
Nelson man Bruce Moon’s controversial talk about New Zealand’s history will go ahead at a new venue.
Moon, a retired physicist and avid historian, was invited by the Nelson Institute to give a talk in April. He chose to speak on New Zealand’s ‘‘fake history’’ related to the Treaty of Waitangi.
But shortly before the scheduled talk at the Elma Turner Library it was unexpectedly cancelled. Moon said he was told the talk was called off due to ‘‘health and safety’’ concerns, which he interpreted as threats of violence.
Since then, Nelson Institute member Nigel Costley has taken up the cause.
‘‘I haven’t heard his talk, I might not even agree with him, but the key thing is I have the right to hear him speak and to make my own judgement about it,’’ he said.
Two months later, Costley has found a venue at the Nelson Hearing Association rooms.
He said he approached multiple venues which he had worked with before, and when they heard what the talk was on, all turned him down. ‘‘We’re prudish about race the way the Victorians were prudish about sex,’’ he said. ‘‘People are worried that just by hosting a talk they will be labelled as racist.’’
Costley said he thought ultimately the refusals to host the talk indicated a poor relationship with iwi and the wider Ma¯ ori community. He knew many in the local iwi community who had no issue with him helping Moon host his talk.
‘‘None of this is about whether I agree with Moon,’’ he said.
‘‘I haven’t heard him talk, I might think it’s complete bollocks, but I have the right to hear it and come to my own conclusions.’’
Moon was ready with a ‘‘slightly revised’’ talk, and hoped he would have an engaged audience.
‘‘I don’t know if there will be a dozen people or a hundred, there’s no way of knowing, but people who do hear about it seem to be interested,’’ he said.
Moon said the reluctance of various venues to host his talk amounted to ‘‘moral cowardice’’.
Former chair of the Nga¯ ti Tama Trust and Ma¯ori historian John Mitchell said it was good Moon found a venue, and he hoped ‘‘for his sake’’ that he found an audience.
‘‘So long as it’s not a hate-filled rant ... he can say what he likes,’’ Mitchell said. ‘‘I’m unlikely to go myself.’’