Decision soon on format of Christchurch anti-racism rally

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX, South Island correspondent

Organisers of an anti-racism march in Christchurch will decide tomorrow if it will go ahead or be changed to an indoor "harmony" rally.

Christchurch lawyer Hock Lee planned the march through the central city and a gathering in Cathedral Square afterwards, to highlight his concern about racially motivated attacks on Asian people.

He was prompted by one woman's tale of being punched in the chest in broad daylight by a stranger. Pedestrians ignored her as she lay crying on the street.

Yesterday Mr Lee and his colleagues met Christchurch mayor Garry Moore for two hours to discuss the march.

Mr Moore last week asked Mr Lee to cancel because the extremist right-wing New Zealand National Front was planning a "counter-protest" at the same time.

He said the event could become a powderkeg.

The National Front is opposed to Asian immigration and says: "If Asian people don't fit into our culture, they are going to be abused."

Yesterday Mr Moore said he would support and attend the "pro-harmony" rally.

But he wanted more emphasis on "harmony" than racial problems.

Also at the meeting were representatives of other groups, including Somalian Muslims, Koreans, and Taiwanese .

Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel and Ngai Tahu's Mark Solomon also attended.