Pubdate: Fri, 09 May 2003
Source: Auckland City Harbour News (NZ)
Contact:  2003 Auckland City Harbour News.
Website: http://www.inl.co.nz/publications/general/info67.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2910
Author: Benedict Collins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

J DAY PROTEST SNUFFED OUT

A plan to hold a protest meeting in Aotea Square last Saturday was snuffed 
out after a dispute between the event organisers and their potential host.

The J Day protest had been advertised to take place at Aotea Square, a 
change from the traditional venue of Albert Park.

However, The Edge, the company responsible for managing Aotea Square, 
denies the event had been booked.

Activist Jonathon Rennie says the venue change had been designed to bring 
more attention to the cause.

"I guess by having it in Aotea Square we would have been a bit more in 
people's faces than usual and gained more attention," Mr Rennie says.

The Edge told organisers on Wednesday last week that the event could not go 
ahead in the square.

The organisers were delighted the Auckland City Council approved the use of 
their traditional venue, Albert Park, in less than two days.

Cannabis activist Chris Fowlie informed the crowd of more than 300 at 
Albert Park about the change.

"Late on Wednesday night, The Edge decided we didn't meet their definition 
of family values - but good on the council for letting us come here."

Sally Woodfield, the communications manager for The Edge, says not only did 
J Day organisers not have a formal booking, they had never even made an 
inquiry.

"The Edge only learned of the J Day event on Tuesday last week through 
police contact. We assisted J Day organisers in moving the event to Albert 
Park," Ms Woodfield says.

The May 3 demonstration included discussions on the contentious nature of 
cannabis laws.

Green MP Nandor Tanczos told the crowd that cannabis law reform in New 
Zealand is being delayed because of United Future leader Peter Dunne.

"We're closer than we have ever been to law reform, but nothing will be 
done because of Peter Dunne and his agreement with the Government that 
nothing will be done in this political term," Mr Tanczos said.

A United Future official confirms that the party, as opposed to Dunne as an 
individual, opposes decriminalisation of cannabis and is preventing law reform.

United Future has a confidence and supply agreement with the Labour 
Government that decrees no steps towards changing cannabis legislation can 
be made in this term.

A team-policing unit attended about 5pm.

After photographing people who had gathered in the park, one person had a 
pipe confiscated but was not arrested.

Mr Tanczos says the people gathered in Albert Park are united in their 
feelings about cannabis.

"We all oppose the persecution of certain people, simply for smoking a 
little herb."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager