Old soldiers and mates back PM

Helen Clark had the upper hand over John Farnham in the Ponsonby-Herne Bay Returned Services Club yesterday.

A transtasman storm exploded on Thursday when the Prime Minister was accused of vetoing a performance by the veteran Australian rocker at the 90th Anzac commemorations at Gallipoli.

It was later revealed, however, that Helen Clark and Australian Prime Minister John Howard had both agreed a pop concert was inappropriate, and Helen Clark had never even heard of Farnham.

But that didn't stop the subject from remaining a talking point in both countries yesterday.

Patrons at the Ponsonby-Herne Bay club supported Helen Clark's opposition to a concert.

"These are the people who went to war for us," said Efu Taalili.

"We should always respect their day. A lot of people died for this country, Maori and Pakeha."

For Karl Muller of Herne Bay, Anzac services - wherever they are held - should be a quiet time.

"I think Helen's right," he said. "This is a memorial."

Mr Muller had a friend who joined up at the start of World War II, and people such as that should be respected, he said.

Former serviceman Nari Felix of Ponsonby agreed.

"To me, you go there to remember and reflect.

"That's how it should be. You don't go there to hear rock music. She [Helen Clark] was pretty reasonable, I reckon."

Not everyone was on the Prime Minister's side, however.

"I like John Farnham," said Tula Tauetao.

"It's not like he was going to play rock and roll. He would play something mellow.

"There's nothing wrong with John Farnham."

Phillip Ruby said Anzac services should ideally be solemn affairs, but he was not totally opposed to the idea of music "as long as they don't finish up with a dirty great band".

Opposition MPs attacked Helen Clark, with National leader Don Brash telling her to "lighten up".

But at least one young person supported the PM's stance.

Bobbie McKay, 31, went to Gallipoli during her OE about four years ago.

"You can still feel the ghosts there and I can't quite see Johnny Farnham or, to be honest, any kind of band there. I haven't been there on Anzac Day and maybe it is more celebratory, but it is quite a sobering place and everyone wanders off and becomes quite reflective, even the Aussies."

She said a drawcard for younger travellers was unnecessary.

"They're already going. The bus was full when I went, and everybody was surprisingly keyed up on the history. It's fundamental to any Kiwi or Aussie OE and it doesn't really need to be enhanced."

Across the Tasman, some were not being particularly reflective yesterday, with the row sparking a frenzy in the Australian media.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph led with the headline "Kiwi Insult to Farnham at Gallipoli", and radio talkback hosts declared war on Helen Clark and all things Kiwi.

Sydney radio host Chris Jones described it as "a stupid ban by the Kiwis".

"How dare they? They're the junior partners in this collaboration."

Farnham's manager, Glenn Wheatley, inflamed the situation by referring to an infamous cricketing incident of a generation ago.

"Maybe she's getting even with us for playing the underarm."

He stressed that Farnham had not intended to sing rock songs, but instead was considering old favourites such as And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda and You'll Never Walk Alone.