KEY POINTS:
Chinese nationalist sentiment is running high among Auckland's mainland Chinese community as they prepare for a pro-China rally this weekend.
Encouraged by organisers to wear red - China's colour - participants, expected to number more than a thousand, will wave Chinese flags and do a mock run with
a replica Olympic torch in Aotea Square on Sunday.
But the rally may also be a focal point for confrontation between the Chinese demonstrators and pro-Tibet and human rights protesters who plan to be there.
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said police were aware of the protest and were prepared should trouble erupt.
"We are anticipating a peaceful and democratic protest, and planning around it has been through the usual operations and planning process," she said. "But we have contingencies in place should there be any trouble."
Mike Davis, who took part in a recent pro-Tibet demonstration, said he will be there to "witness how much the Chinese believe in their own propaganda".
Organisers said they are leaving security worries to police as they wanted to concentrate on making the rally "a celebration" rather than a "demonstration".
"The rally will not just be a celebration of the Olympics, but also of being Chinese," said one of the organisers, Jim He, secretary general of the United Chinese Associations of New Zealand.
"This will be one of the biggest rallies for Chinese in New Zealand."
Another organiser, who did not want to be named, said a decision had been made at a meeting with Chinese consulate officials that all Chinese organisations be involved with the rally, and not just international students as was the case in previous rallies.
Last month, the community held a demonstration at the same venue, protesting against a perceived Western media bias in reporting China's crackdown on the violence in Tibet and the disruptions of the Olympic torch relay.
Chinese international student Jemmy Li, 22, from the city of Xian, said one of his biggest shocks upon coming to New Zealand was the discovery of how some Kiwis viewed China.
"Before I came to New Zealand, I was told this country likes China and is very welcoming and understanding," he said. "I am shocked at how many Kiwis believe the media lies and support ridiculous protests, like calling for China to free Tibet or boycotting the Olympics."
A Chinese journalist in Auckland, Nan Zheng, said many Chinese were angry because they believed Western countries were deliberately pouring cold water on China's "coming-out party" at the Beijing Games.
She said the West had attacked China on issues such as air pollution, human rights and its support of the Sudanese Government even before the Tibet crackdown.
Angry and emotionally charged postings on New Zealand's Chinese online forums, such as skykiwi.com, carried a consistent message that "Chinese should not be bullied, and China should not be humiliated".
Zheng said at least one posting carried a local Tibetan community leader's cellphone number and requests to flood it with pro-China messages.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the New Zealand Friends of Tibet movement, Thuten Kesang, told the Herald he had made a police report after receiving more than 200 abusive and threatening text messages on his mobile phone.
"Most of them used vulgarities, and my wife, who saw them, is very badly affected," he said. "It is sad because we have never attacked the Chinese people, only its government policies, so why should they take it personally?"
Mr Kesang said it was the first time such a thing has happened, and it was "very disturbing".
