Christchurch meeting on racism postponed

It was to have been a peculiar coffee date - a former skinhead meeting for a cuppa with the Asian organiser of an anti-racism rally to chat about their diametrically opposed views.

But it never came to be because of the "media frenzy" that followed the announcement.

Instead, National Front director Kyle Chapman and anti-racism campaigner Lincoln Tan postponed their plans.

Mr Tan, a Singaporean who moved to NZ three years ago, initiated the meeting in a bid to try to convince Mr Chapman that Asian immigrants contribute positively to the country, and to understand Mr Chapman better.

Both men wanted the meeting to be private, without media representatives present.

But Mr Tan said he arrived at work in Christchurch yesterday to find radio and TV reporters saying they would be there.

Fearing the meeting was just an opportunity for the National Front to get more publicity for its views, Mr Tan called it off.

"It was to have been a private meeting between him and myself, and not to be used as an opportunity for a media frenzy.

"It was not intended to give credibility to the National Front or what they stand for. It was more of a personal thing for us to understand each other better."

Mr Chapman said he was sick of the media, particularly TV, trying to sensationalise things.

He denied agreeing to have TV reporters there, saying they badgered him for the location and time of the meeting but he did not give the game away.

- NZPA