Too loud for police ears

Protesters had their megaphones confiscated "in the interests of public safety" and to protect the ears of police officers at a lunchtime anti-Apec demonstration yesterday.

About 50 members of the Auckland Coalition Against Apec - comprising community, church, student and trade union groups - used loud hailers, whistles and drums as they marched chanting up Queen St into Aotea Square.

A wall of police outnumbered the protesters and jostled with them as the rally was halted at the bottom of steps leading to the Aotea Centre.

Coalition spokeswoman Sue Bradford had two loud hailers snatched from her by police, and one elderly protester fell as the group chanted: "Tahi, rua, toru, wha, Apec leaders, haere ra [1,2,3,4 ... goodbye]."

"The coalition is standing up to a free-trade agenda," Sue Bradford said. "We want fair trade, not free trade."

Police spokeswoman Robyn Orchard said the loud hailers were confiscated under the Crimes Act to protect the hearing of frontline staff.

"They were being used in a manner dangerous to police staff, so they could be seized in the interests of public safety."- STAFF REPORTERS