Stop Co-Governance meeting left mayor ‘ill’

Protesting outside the Stop Co-Governance meeting in Lowburn on Tuesday evening are (from left)...
Protesting outside the Stop Co-Governance meeting in Lowburn on Tuesday evening are (from left) Kieran Parson, of Bannockburn, Ben Robson, of Alexandra, and Naomi Johnstone, of Cromwell. About 15 protesters gathered outside the hall to dispute the claims of meeting organiser Julian Batchelor. PHOTO: JULIE ASHER
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan lasted 20 minutes at Tuesday night’s Stop Co-Governance meeting in Lowburn.

After that he walked out, feeling physically unwell.

Mr Cadogan did not enjoy his time at the meeting at Lowburn Hall, where about 25 people gathered.

"I stayed about 20 minutes and I left because the poison being peddled was starting to make me feel ill," he said.

"Overall though I was glad so few Central Otago people turned up to hear this man’s sermon."

Through a show of hands most heard about the meeting from someone else, four had gone because of a leaflet in their mailbox and one had heard about it on social media.

Outside the hall, about 15 people gathered to protest Mr Batchelor’s views. Among them was Vincent Community Board member Jayden Cromb.

Mr Cromb said he was there to show support for the protesters.

"At the end of the day we’ve got to have conversations which are polite, tolerant and fair but from what I have heard this is not."

The protesters were photographed by Mr Batchelor and challenged by one man heading into the meeting.

However, when the meeting broke for a cup of tea after nearly an hour and a-half, the security guard on the door offered the protesters a drink and something to eat. They declined.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr Batchelor told the audience if they interrupted the meeting he would have them trespassed

Mr Batchelor said he was planning to have more than 100 meetings around the country and get 100,000 people to gather in Auckland before the election.