KEY POINTS:
A Chinese journalist says he was evicted from a Beehive photo opportunity last night because of pressure on the Government from the Chinese Embassy.
Journalist Nick Wang, based in Wellington, and cameraman/editor Tony Clark went to the Beehive to document deputy prime minister Michael Cullen meeting Zeng Peiyan.
The photo opportunity had been listed in a media advisory.
Clark said the two men were prevented from properly doing their job after a "local Chinese intelligence guy" told a member of the Diplomatic Protection Squad that Wang was "a problem".
Dr Cullen said Wang was removed from the photo opportunity because he was creating a disturbance.
Dr Cullen said there had been a misunderstanding and Wang was removed "after he got upset".
"I think it's unfortunate that Mr Wang got himself overly wound up on that matter."
Clark denied that was what happened.
While members of the Chinese media travelling with the delegation were allowed into the eighth floor meeting room to observe the official handshake, Clark and Wang were escorted by a uniformed police officer to the office of Parliament's Speaker.
Wang said today he had refused to leave when asked to.
"(The delegation) asked me to leave and the police asked me to leave and I said 'unless you are arresting me, if you don't arrest me I am here I am working, I am working for freedom of speech, for human rights'," he told Radio New Zealand.
Mr Wang said his previous reporting had raised hackles.
"I believe the New Zealand Government received letters or some pressure from Chinese Embassy," he said.
"I was telephoned by the Chinese Embassy asking why I published news stories about the 15th anniversary of Tiannamen movement."
Wang is an accredited member of the Press Gallery which means he has a pass that allows him access to Parliament's buildings.
Clark obtained permission to take pictures.
Both men work for New Zealand Asia TV and Capital Chinese news, a New Zealand-based Chinese language newspaper.
They produce a half-hour show on Triangle Television, reporting on Asian events in the Wellington region.
Press Gallery chairwoman Marie McNicholas was called after the Chinese delegation protested at the journalist's presence. She said she refused to assist removing Wang.
"I was pulled aside by the deputy head of mission here for the Chinese embassy who asked me to remove Mr Wang and claimed that he was a security risk. I said I didn't remove journalists, this was New Zealand and we didn't do that," she said.
A Government spokesman last night said there had been a misunderstanding.
Eventually the pair were permitted to go to the Beehive venue where an official signing ceremony was to be held but the Chinese delegation refused to take part at the assigned time while Wang was there.
The official line was that the signing ceremony was held later because talks had gone on longer than expected.
Green co-leader and trade spokesperson Russel Norman said he understood that the Government directed police to remove Wang, sacrificing free speech to try to make progress on trade.
The treatment of Wang was "a sad and desperate attempt to win favour with the Chinese so that they will sign a trade deal with New Zealand", he said.
- NZPA
