China upset at NZ plan to screen ethnic film

China's New Zealand representatives may complain to the New Zealand Government about a planned screening of a documentary about a Uighur activist Beijing has accused of inciting ethnic riots, an official said.

A Maori Television spokeswoman says the film about the life of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, called 10 Conditions of Love, will screen on September 1.

"It will be brought to the attention of the ambassador, who will decide if a complaint will be made," a Chinese embassy spokeswoman said.

China had officially protested to the Australian Government about Ms Kadeer's intention to attend the Melbourne International Film Festival for the premiere of the film this Saturday.

Jim He, secretary-general of the United Chinese Associations of New Zealand, said screening the documentary here could potentially upset a lot of Chinese and China supporters.

"We are surprised that the Melbourne Film Festival decided to use the event to make a political statement by inviting a terrorist leader, but there is no reason for us to spread the untruths here," Mr He said.

"Screening the documentary will just create more misunderstanding and ill feelings towards ethnic Chinese communities here."

Beijing has labelled her an international terrorist, and alleged that the organisation she represents has links with al Qaeda.

Ms Kadeer, who lives in exile in the United States, is due to arrive in Melbourne tomorrow. She will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Saturday before returning to Washington said her host and film producer John Lewis.

Mr Lewis said Maori TV bought the screening rights for US$2000 ($3067), and will be the "first television broadcaster in the world" to screen "the documentary China doesn't want the world to see".

The film centres around Ms Kadeer and husband Sidik Rouzi's struggle for autonomy and religious freedom for the mostly Muslim Uighurs in their homeland.

Ms Kadeer began publicly criticising repression of Xinjiang Uighurs in 1997.

The World Uighur Congress leader is seeking international support to press Beijing to open discussions with the congress over Xinjiang's future.

Mr Lewis said Beijing had demanded the documentary be withdrawn from the festival.

Her supporters want the Australian Government to meet her and support her call for a United Nations investigation into the fate of 10,000 Uighurs she claims are dead or missing as a result of China's Xinjiang crackdown.

Ms Kadeer has denied any involvement in the recent violence in Xinjiang.