Protests as Howard arrives in Auckland

About 80 protesters armed with an inflatable bomb greeted Australian Prime Minister John Howard this afternoon when he arrived at Auckland's Whenuapai air force base for a three-day visit to New Zealand.

The protesters, who were peaceful, held up banners which said "Stop the Genocide" and Yankee Doodle Johnny". More protesters lay under a flying inflatable bomb.

Mr Howard and his wife Janette arrived at the base at about 2.45pm where they were met by Prime Minister Helen Clark and her husband Peter Davis.

The trip is supposed to mark the 20th anniversary of the free trade agreement between the trans-Tasman neighbours, Closer Economic Relations (CER).

But the CER celebrations are set to be pushed to the background because of Mr Howard's strong stance on Iraq and New Zealand's opposition to any United States-led unilateral action in the Middle East.

A large police contingent was stationed around much of Whenuapai bases's perimeter to ensue Mr Howard's arrival was not interrupted.

Inside the base, Mr Howard told reporters it was important for New Zealand and Australia to look at the areas about Iraq on which they strongly agreed.

"Both of us want to see Iraq disarmed."

Miss Clark agreed, but said her Government wanted to see the diplomatic process run its course before any action against Iraq and she felt that had a little way to run yet.

New Zealand appreciated that the security alliance between Australia and the United States was the centre of Australian defence and foreign policy, Miss Clark said.

That led to a difference between Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Howard said there could be a faint hope of avoiding military conflict in Iraq if all members of the United Nations Security Council said the same thing firmly and unconditionally, possibly with the combined help of the Arab states.

That could possibly bring about the change of heart he believed was necessary to ensure Iraq unconditionally, genuinely and co-operatively complied with UN weapons inspectors.

Mr Howard was driven quickly past the protests outside the base to his next appointment, officially opening an Australian consulate general's office in central Auckland.

Australia has about 2000 military personnel in the Persian Gulf, including SAS commandos, F/A-18 jet fighters and navy ships, as part of the United-States build-up against Iraq.


A crowd of about 120 was kept well back from the Australian prime minister when he arrived in downtown Auckland shortly before 5pm.

He was there to officially open the new Australia Consulate-General office on the 7th floor of a Quay St office tower with views of the Waitemata Harbour.

Police had cordoned streets around the building and Mr Howard appeared to pay no attention to protesters shouting "go home Howard" as he entered the venue.

Some protesters had placards saying "Together We Can Stop This War", while there was also a banner saying "Free Palestine" and a sign saying "Intifada Will Never Die".

Inside, Mr Howard, primarily here to mark the 20th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations agreement between Australia and New Zealand, concentrated on economics matters.

"CER is regarded around the world as having been one of the great successes when it comes to free trade and open trade agreement between nations," he said.

Later Mr Howard and Miss Clark spoke briefly at a CER 20th anniversary reception at the Sheraton Hotel.

About 40 protesters gathered across the road from the hotel entrance but were faced by about 50 police.

One banner from a group calling itself the Anti-Imperials Coalition read "Workers of the World United".

Miss Clark told guests at the reception the integration of the Australian and New Zealand economies and the success of CER helped explain why both countries were so keen to have a free trade agreement with the United States.

"Economic partnerships of this kind deliver results as CER has shown," she said.

Miss Clark briefly mentioned Iraq saying it would be desirable for Iraq to disarm comprehensively as it had been asked to do for so many years.

Mr Howard restricted his comments to economics issues .

Although there had been difficulties with individual issues in the past both countries had always been able to work through them on the basis of mutual respect and common sense, he said.

- NZPA