Spineless Mayors Bow to Chinese Pressure

Chinese government agents in NZ have been pressuring, threatening and spying on local Chinese for years.

Now they are getting cocky enough to monster our local body "leaders".

From today's NZ Herald

Mayors are coming under pressure from the Chinese Government not to support a cultural show being held in Auckland - because some of the cast are members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement.


All seven mayors in the Auckland region received invitations to the Divine Performing Arts show at the Civic Theatre - billed as a peaceful celebration of ancient Chinese culture - yet none will attend.

Some of the mayors received phone calls from the Chinese Consulate advising them not to attend the show and pointing out the Falun Gong connection of some of the performers.

Previously North Shore City Mayor George Wood had confirmed his attendance at the event, but later withdrew the offer after the Chinese Consulate contacted him about the group's Falun Gong associations.

"I felt uneasy about the whole thing," he said yesterday. "I've got more to do than get into a situation where I'm going to be the meat in a sandwich."

Mr Wood said he spoke to the arts group and was left with the impression that what the Chinese official had told him was true.

"I don't know what Falun Gong is and I have never really understood the merits of either side of the argument but I realised attending wasn't in my best interests."

He said he had a "fairly good relationship" with China.

The group, which includes members of the Falun Gong peace movement outlawed by China, is due to perform in Auckland tonight.

A spokeswoman said that during their four-month world tour the group had experienced "severe interference" from Chinese officials in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and now this country.

A spokesman for Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard said he would not attend the event because of a previous engagement but confirmed that the consulate had contacted the mayor's office.

Local dignitaries have not been the only ones to feel the consulate's pressure.

Publicist Charlotte Cuthbertson said the Chinese Herald cancelled an advertisement for the show after bowing to consulate pressure.

Ms Cuthbertson said that although some members of the performing arts group were Falun Gong practitioners, the show itself was not a Falun Gong production.

She said the New York-based group experienced interference from the Chinese Government wherever they went, most recently in Australia.

Last night United Future leader Peter Dunne said the incident was a "reprehensible intervention in our democratic way of life".

"I don't think it's appropriate for diplomatic representatives of the Chinese Government to be telling New Zealanders, be they members of Parliament, mayors or individual citizens, what they can and cannot do."

New Zeal

Congratulations to Peter Dunne for speaking out against this blatant Chinese interference in NZ affairs.

As we get more and more economically dependent on China, this kind of pressure will only increase.

Which is better-that "The Warehouse" is full of cheap Chinese goods, or that we maintain our freedoms and our national independence?

I urge every Aucklander reading this to go to the show tonight.

Here's North Shore Mayor George Wood's email address.

George.Wood@northshorecity.govt.nz

Drop him an email. Let him know what a spineless disgrace you think he is.