Social media threats against Don Brash speaking at Massey University revealed

The social media comments that forced Massey University to shut down an event where former National MP and Reserve Bank governor Don Brash was due to speak have been revealed.

Brash was due to speak at the event at Massey University's Manawatu campus as part of a series of political talks.

Newshub revealed a Facebook user posted a link to the event page with the caption, "This guy lol ... if your [sic] up to nothing wensday [sic] head up to massey uni".

The post was accompanied by two emojis, a red circle with a cross through it and a laughing face.

In response, another person commented, "Take a gun".

The Massey University corporate communications director told Newshub the comments were "enough red flags to tip the balance" in the eyes of vice chancellor Jan Thomas.

However, Thomas scrapped the event over security concerns yesterday, citing the welfare of students as her main concern.

"It was a really tough decision, I don't like making these sorts of decisions, but it was for the good of the community," she told Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB.

Brash was upset over the decision to bar him from attending the university and believes Thomas was motivated by controversial comments he's made in the past.

No stranger to controversy, Brash made headlines with his infamous Orewa speech in 2004 when he was the leader of the National Party.

In it he criticised "separatist" policies such as the allocation of Māori electorate seats in Parliament and the use of Māori spiritual traditions in official events.

Brash told Larry Williams yesterday he was simply attending to talk about his time as National Party leader and nothing else.

"The irony is, I was to speak about my time as National Party leader between 2003 and 2006, I wasn't talking about current events at all.

"In my speech notes, I make no reference to the Canadians or to the Hobson speech or anything else," he said.