Greens stand by support of cricket tour legislation

Legislation banning the Black Caps' tour of Zimbabwe would not breach the Bill of Rights, according to a legal opinion from a leading law firm.

The Green Party said the view of law firm Russell McVeagh showed that claims its proposed legislation to ban such a tour impinged on New Zealanders' rights were wrong.

No other political party supports the legislation, which the Government has said would potentially curtail New Zealanders' rights.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald urged other parties to reconsider their stance on the legislation on the basis of the legal opinion.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said he was concerned that Mr Donald's bill would restrict New Zealanders' right to travel as a group.

The legal opinion did not alleviate that concern.

Zimbabwean human rights activist Judith Todd said she had grave fears for the safety of the Black Caps.

Ms Todd, who is in New Zealand to urge the cancellation of next month's tour, said the cricketers would be at risk from President Robert Mugabe and his militia and could be imprisoned or physically hurt while in Zimbabwe.

"I can't understand how any cricketer can willingly endanger themselves. No one in Zimbabwe is safe from President Robert Mugabe.

Ms Todd, the daughter of New Zealand-born former Southern Rhodesia Prime Minister Sir Garfield Todd, and Mr Donald screened a documentary that had been smuggled from Zimbabwe, showing stark footage of Mr Mugabe's campaign to demolish the homes of tens of thousands of city dwellers.

The film-makers estimated that the campaign, which also cracked down on street sellers, had destroyed 65,000 houses, put about 500,000 people out of work, and left about 300,000 children unable to attend school.

Ms Todd said Mr Mugabe had backed himself into a corner, which had made him unpredictable and likely to hit out - particularly against citizens from a country such as New Zealand whose Government had voiced its opposition to his regime.

If the Black Caps took any action while in Zimbabwe, such as wearing black arm-bands in protest, they could be imprisoned under the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, which prevents people undermining the authority or insulting Mr Mugabe.

Under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules the tour can be stopped, and NZ Cricket would avoid the $2.8 million fine, if it was considered a security risk for the team to travel to Zimbabwe.

NZ Cricket said yesterday that it had security advisers in Zimbabwe and they would continue to access the situation up to and during the tour.

A spokesman said they were comfortable with the present situation.

With less than two weeks left before the Black Caps leave, time is running out for a way to stop the tour without NZ Cricket being penalised by the ICC.

- Staff reporter, NZPA