Groups opposing anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, from entering the country have failed in their High Court challenge.

Parker - who says she is a women’s rights supporter - is due to arrive in Auckland this afternoon, however, efforts of a coalition of rainbow groups opposing the arrival hoped to have her turned away.

Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōara and Auckland Pride jointly filed a judicial review application on Thursday. The applicants sought an interim order preventing Parker’s arrival until the judicial review can be heard in its totality.

After a two-hour hearing on Friday morning in the High Court at Wellington, which heard from the coalition of rainbow groups, Crown Law and intervenors the New Zealand Free Speech Union, High Court justice David Gendall declined the application.

Immigration New Zealand announced earlier this week that she did not meet the high threshold to be considered an excluded person under section 16 of the Immigration Act 2009.

The INZ assessment took into account the events in Melbourne, where her speaking event drew a crowd, including people who were seen giving Nazi salutes and shouting slurs, Minister for Immigration Michael Wood said earlier this week.

“Like many New Zealanders I would prefer it if Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull never set foot in New Zealand. I find many of her views repugnant, and am concerned by the way in which she courts some of the most vile people and groups around, including white supremacists,” Wood said.

“As we look towards her events for this coming weekend, the welfare and safety of our transgender community is front of mind. Event organisers maintain the primary responsibility to ensure they run a safe and secure event and police have advised they will also be in attendance to ensure public safety.

“I condemn her inflammatory, vile and incorrect worldviews, and will always stand alongside those New Zealanders who use their own right to free speech against those who wish to take society backwards.”

Counter-protests to Keen-Minshull, who uses the alternative identity of Posie Parker, have already been arranged for both the Auckland and Wellington Let Women Speak events.

An online petition has also been launched calling for her to be kept out of the country.

More to come.

- Hazel Osborne and Ethan Griffiths, Open Justice