The threat responsible for cancelling former National Party leader, Don Brash's speech has been revealed as a single social media comment which said: "take a gun".

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

However, his event was cancelled after the university's Vice Chancellor said they had received threats.

Don Brash told Mike Hosking the security concerns are nonsense

"It is an appalling situation, it looks like it was a personal decision by the Vice-chancellor."

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said cancelling the event was an 'overreaction' by the university.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DON BRASH SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING