Stabbing sparks security worry

Police took statements from protesters and onlookers at a pro-cannabis rally in Hastings on Saturday after a man was allegedly stabbed during an unrelated domestic incident nearby.Photo/Paul Taylor

The organiser of a Hastings cannabis law reform protest says she will hire security staff for the annual eventafter emergency services were called to an alleged stabbing that took place near the rally on Saturday.

Police and ambulance staff were called after a man was allegedly stabbed by a woman near the J Day event, part of a global day of protest against cannabis prohibition which included rallies in nine centres around New Zealand.

Hastings J Day organiser Romana Manning said neither the victim nor the alleged attacker had any involvement in the rally, but the pair happened to be walking near the event when the incident between them flared up.

The man was not seriously injured and he and the alleged attacker were taken away by police for questioning. Officers took statements from J Day protesters who witnessed the attack.

It is believed the pair had earlier been taken into custody following a domestic dispute and had been released shortly before the alleged stabbing occurred.

"The police agreed it would have happened whether we were there or not. It was two drunk people. We were just witnesses to it rather than anything else," Ms Manning said.

"Neither of them had had anything to smoke as far as I know. They hadn't been with our group. I'd say if they had had a smoke they probably wouldn't have ended up doing it," Ms Manning said.

She had hired security guards for the past four years' J Day events but had decided against doing so this year because the previous rallies had been trouble-free.

The event itself went very well, Ms Manning said, attracting a lot of attention for cannabis law reform. It involved "lighting up in protest" but despite cannabis being smoked openly no arrests were made.