In 2006 I blogged on David Irving and said he shouldn’t have been jailed for holocaust denial.

This is different, however. The laws in Europe are in place for very good reasons, as Austria and Germany were directly complicit in the Holocaust. Spouting his illogical nonsense could be considered offensive in such countries.

Now, in New Zealand, these laws apply differently. Give our long traditional of free-speech I don't think it was appropriate for Goff to stop them from presenting their views, no matter how repulsive they are. It in fact would have played better, given people could respond with in a calm and courteous diplomatic manner. Without the knee-jerk reaction from the Auckland Council. Shutting down this discussion with counter-points is better than having it descend into the sewers and emerge later.