Immigration New Zealand has declined a visa application from conservative US commentator Candace Owens ahead of a planned speaking event in Auckland — citing her recent ban from Australia.
In a statement to 1News, INZ confirmed the 35-year-old had applied for a Entertainers Work Visa.
“Under section 15(1)(f) of the Immigration Act, an individual may not be granted a visa to come to New Zealand if they have been excluded from another country.”
In October, Australia rejected Owens’ visa application ahead of a speaking tour, which was set to also stop in New Zealand. At the time, Australian immigration minister Tony Burke said she had the “capacity to incite discord”, according to The Guardian.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about [notorious Nazi doctor Josef] Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction.
“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.”
Owens had speaking events planned in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
In Auckland, Owens was first due to speak on November 14 at West Auckland’s Trusts Arena.
According to The Trusts Arena website, this event has been postponed. On the Ticketbooth website, the date for the event was listed as February 28, 2025.
General admission tickets to the event were to cost $95, while tickets to the VIP dinner/show were priced at $1500 each.
