Fur protesters raise racket at event

Anti-fur protesters targeted Fashion Week's first official event last night with piercing whistles and slogan-shouting from loud-hailers at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

Media and fashion buyers were filing inside for an official welcome when 15 protesters from Auckland Animal Action (AAA) sang out "fur is murder, fur is death, if you sell fur you are sick in the head".

Rochelle Rees of AAA said the group was directing its protest at NZ designer Annah Stretton.

Stretton, whose label is Annah S, uses NZ possum fur in her garments.

Ms Rees said the protesters' main issue was the method of possum trapping using a leg hole, a small iron device that uses bait to lure possums and traps their legs.

'The animals are stuck for days trying to escape. It's a severe situation they are kept in."

AAA plans to protest throughout Fashion Week.

Ms Rees said the group had sent letters to the event's organisers and Stretton explaining its issues but it had had no response.