Blind eye more mud in the eye at Fiji Sevens match

By FRANCESCA MOLD political editor

Sports Minister Trevor Mallard has swapped the barricades of the 1981 Springbok tour for a symbolic pie and a pint to protest against Fiji playing in the World Rugby Sevens.

Government MPs have been told they are allowed to go to the sevens tournament in Wellington next weekend - but they must not watch the Fijian team play.

The warning from Foreign Minister Phil Goff comes after the Government banned sporting contact with Fiji in the wake of the overthrow of the Administration of Mahendra Chaudhry in last year's coup.

The Government later softened its stance and its self-described "smart sanctions" after a meeting between Mr Mallard and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Despite pleas from Canberra for New Zealand to stay strong, the Government decided to allow Fijian teams to visit the country as long as they were competing in internationally organised events.

Australia, in contrast, banned the Fiji team from playing in a tournament pencilled in for Brisbane.

Mr Goff's reminder forced Mr Mallard to hurriedly cancel a parliamentary reception he had planned for the sevens teams.

Mr Mallard told the Weekend Herald that he would attend the tournament but boycott the Fijian games.

"While the Fijians are playing I'll go and get a pie and a beer, which at WestpacTrust [Stadium] probably takes slightly longer than a game of sevens."

In 1981, Mr Mallard was arrested for protesting outside the South African rugby team's hotel during the controversial Springbok tour.

He was later found not guilty of disorderly behaviour.

Green MP Keith Locke, who will join a small group of protesters outside the stadium next weekend, has described the Government's stance as farcical.

He said the chickens were coming home to roost over the Government's "unprincipled" decision to give visas to the Fiji sevens team.

"Phil Goff's advice to MPs is somewhat laughable.

"He says they can go to the tournament but avert their eyes when the Fiji team plays."

Alliance leader Jim Anderton has said he will not watch the games.

"If I went to the tournament, it would send at least an equivocal message about turning a blind eye. I'm not prepared to do that," he said.

The rugby union said in a letter that it was disappointed by, but understood, Mr Mallard's decision to withdraw his offer to welcome the teams at Parliament.

A spokeswoman said a parade in Wellington would go ahead from another starting point.