Deported 'pick-up artist' could be refused entry to NZ

Julien Blanc held seminars in secret after widespread protest. Photo / Supplied

Immigration NZ says it could refuse entry to an American reported to be planning a seminar here in April on seducing women by techniques including chokeholds.

The man, Julien Blanc, was deported from Australia in 2014 following widespread exposure of his pick-up technique, titled Real Social Dynamics, which encourages men to verbally abuse women and even grab women's heads and force them toward the groin.

Immigration NZ Auckland area manager Michael Carley said the agency had "no record of anyone by the name of Julien Blanc and fitting your description applying for a visa to travel to New Zealand".

He said Blanc would not need a visa because of a visa waiver applying to US citizens, but that he could still be stopped at the border because he was deported from Australia.

Section 15 of the Immigration Act provides that anyone who has been deported from another country cannot be granted entry to New Zealand except by a special direction from the Immigration Minister.

"Although people from visa waiver countries do not need a visitor visa to travel to New Zealand for a period of less than three months (or six months if from the United Kingdom), they must meet health and character requirements before being granted entry permission," Mr Carley said.

"People from visa waiver countries may not be granted entry to New Zealand if they are not considered to be genuine visitors or have been sentenced to imprisonment, deported from any country or suspected of being involved in known criminal or terrorist groups.

"In general, people intending to work in New Zealand need to apply for and obtain a work visa."

Women's Refuge has responded to the news of Julien Blanc coming to New Zealand by saying #NoYouAreBloodyNot.

On its Facebook page, it wrote "So then there's this [insert noun], who thinks it's a wonderful idea to literally perpetrate violence against women by running 'seminars' that teach men to 'seduce' women by 'belittling, physically restraining, mentally deriding, and abusing her until she submits'. Ladies and gentlemen, Julian [sic] Blanc, who apparently thinks he's coming to NZ in April to do a 'seminar'."

His pick-up technique, titled Real Social Dynamics, encourages men to verbally abuse women and even grab women's heads and force them toward the groin.

Images surfaced online which showed Blanc posing for photos as he held a woman in a chokehold.

A petition to ban him from Australia has already reached 61,372 signatures. According to the petition, Blanc and his group claim women want to be raped and called "deadbeat whores."