Questions hang in air as concert site moved

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The Auckland venue for one of the country's biggest Waitangi Day celebrations - and the reggae concert to mark the birthday of the late singer Bob Marley - has been changed but organisers will not confirm that concern over dope-smoking is behind the change.

The One Love New Zealand Day celebration has been shifted from Okahu Bay on Tamaki Drive to the Pt England Reserve in Glen Innes, overlooking the Tamaki Estuary and Hauraki Gulf.

The day is being jointly organised by Ngati Whatua, the Waiata Artists Group and the Catalyst Trust.

The Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos, who will MC the event, is a member of the trust. One of its aims is to educate people about reducing the harmful effects of drug use.

About two weeks ago, Ngati Whatua elders were reported as being opposed to drug use on their ancestral land at Okahu Bay.

An alcohol ban was in place but organisers admitted they had no answer to the potential for marijuana users to light up during the seven-hour event.

But a Ngati Whatua spokesman, Ken Kerehoma, said yesterday that the cost of putting on the event at the site was behind the shift.

The concern was traffic safety and the need to employ traffic marshals. Asked if the potential for dope-smoking among the reggae concertgoers was responsible for the change, Mr Kerehoma said: "Not at all. We are still part of the organisation."

Chris Fowlie, of the Catalyst Trust, said Ngati Whatua decided to change the venue.

"You have really got to ask them why ... To us, cannabis is not a focus for this event. It is not the reason for the event. It is not what the day is about.

"But we do recognise that some people will probably be there smoking pot, just like if you go to Queen St and there are people smoking pot or you stop a billionaire at an airport and, hey, he's got a whole lot of pot on him."

Ngati Whatua elders would be invited to Pt England, said Mr Fowlie. Both he and Mr Kerehoma said it was a pity the event would not be at Okahu Bay but they hoped they would be back next year.

Up to 15,000 people have attended celebrations in the past. An alcohol ban will be in force on the Pt England site, which is bigger, with panoramic views, a nature walk and better parking.

It is said to be near the spot where Ngati Whatua chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi on March 4, 1840.