Ice Cube frozen out

A campaign to ban Ice Cube from touring New Zealand has been launched, amid claims that he "promotes gangs, gang violence and drugs".

The rapper is scheduled to play a concert in Auckland this month, infuriating a local political figure who insists he sets a bad example.

The move by Len Brown, who is running for Mayor of Manukau, a suburb of Auckland, follows the Australian government's decision not to allow Snoop Dogg a visa in April.

In a statement, Brown commented: "Why is Ice Cube coming to the Telstra Pacific Centre on 22 August this year? We don't want him. We don't need him. He is not welcome here.

"Ice Cube brings a gangsta (sic) message to our community via his gangsta (sic) rap. This message promotes gangs, gang violence and drugs.

"We don't want this in our homes. We don't want it on our streets", he insisted.

Ice Cube has made no comment on the situation.