Council asked to drop plan for roadblocks

Peace activists have asked Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith and the 15 city councillors to stop plans to vet people using part of a public street outside next week’s controversial Defence Forum.

A letter from Peace Action groups in Manawatu¯ , Auckland and Wellington asks the elected officials not to allow checkpoints restricting access to Waldegrave St outside the Central Energy Trust Arena venue for what they call a weapons expo.

‘‘We implore [the city council] to withdraw its plans to screen people wishing to enter the zone on Waldegrave St,’’ said Samuel Vincent and Teanau Tuiono, who signed the letter.

‘‘We understand that these plans are unlawful.’’

Vincent, a member of Auckland Peace Action, had also applied to the High Court for an injunction stopping the partial closure of the street.

He said the council had a legal right to temporarily close a street or part of a street, but not to close it to ‘‘certain people or classes of people’’.

They believed there would be barricades in place to stop protesters getting too close.

That curtailed people’s rights to lawful protest and freedom of expression, they said.

They were concerned that staff on checkpoints would also be questioning residents and people visiting other facilities and businesses about their purpose for entering the area.

Age Concern Manawatu¯ and MS Central Districts had decided to close during the forum rather than negotiate the roadblocks.

MS office manager Carolyn Sloane said an art class had been cancelled, as it would be too difficult for people in wheelchairs and with disabilities to get to the centre. Its field worker would be mobile and not use the office.

The Women’s Centre, however, would persevere. Women’s Health Collective spokeswoman Jean Hera said some women had booked appointments and others would be welcome to drop in.

She said women should tell anyone who asked them where they were going, but not why.

Peace Action Manawatu¯ spokesman Fred Hirst has called for a meeting between councillors and protesters to seek an agreement about access to Waldegrave St.

‘‘We strongly suggest that [the council] does not use public funds to defend a use of statutory power which curtails fundamental civil rights.’’

The Defence Industry Association declined to comment on the application for a judicial review, with chairman Andrew Ford saying it was a matter for the council.

The council said it would not comment on a matter that was before the courts. Smith also said it would be best not to say anything in the middle of a legal process.

Forum opponents will hold a multi-faith gathering in The Square, Palmerston North, at noon today and a Healing and Hope church service at All Saints at 5pm tomorrow.

The role of the Defence Forum will be debated at a public meeting with investigator Nicky Hager and Auckland Peace Action’s Val Morse at The Globe on Main St, Palmerston North, on Monday at 7pm.

The council had a legal right to temporarily close a street . . . but not to close it to ‘‘certain people or classes of people’’.