Odd Future Banned from NZ

Californian hip hop collective Odd Future have been stopped by Immigration NZ from entering the country.

The group are due to perform at Eminem's Rapture festival on Saturday night.

The leader of the group, Tyler the Creator tweeted "OF is banned from New Zealand, again. They said we were 'terrorist threats and bad for the society' or whatever. Sick..."

In an official statement released by Immigration NZ Odd Future were banned from entering the country on the basis of "... reason to believe there is, or is likely to be, a threat or risk to public order or the public interest."

According to the NZHerald, the ban comes days after sexual violence advocacy group Stop Demand emailed Auckland councillors, criticising the decision to allow the group to perform at the Western Springs event.

Odd Future were a last-minute fill-in for Kendrick Lamar and the immigration decision comes after visas had already been approved.  

The members of Odd Future due to appear at Rapture are Tyler, The Creator, Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, Left Brain, Mike G and Taco Bennett. Another renowned member of the group, Earl Sweatshirt, was in the country a couple of weeks ago for Laneway Festival.

The full statement from Immigration NZ says "Immigration New Zealand can confirm that it has refused to allow members of the group Odd Future to travel to New Zealand. The Immigration Act 2009 provides that entry permission may not be granted where there is reason to believe there is, or is likely to be, a threat or risk to public order or the public interest. Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they incited violence. In one instance, a police officer was hospitalised following a riot incited by Odd Future."