Goff hosts multi-party talks on Zimbabwe

Political parties will meet Foreign Minister Phil Goff today to discuss a multi-party approach to cutting sporting contact with Zimbabwe and halting the Black Caps tour.

In an unusual show of solidarity, parties across the political spectrum have expressed a desire to meet to discuss the worsening situation in Zimbabwe and what New Zealand can do to show its opposition.

"If we can get a multi-party approach, so much the better," said Mr Goff. "That strengthens our stand as a country."

He will also meet New Zealand Cricket officials this week to discuss next month's tour.

Mr Goff met Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in Queensland at the weekend, where they agreed on a range of measures to increase pressure on President Robert Mugabe's regime.

The ministers agreed to explore with "like-minded countries" a total sporting ban on all Zimbabwe teams.

Last night, Mr Goff said it was unlikely the ICC would alter its stance on Zimbabwe before the Black Caps tour.

The most likely way the tour could be avoided was if it was considered a security risk for the team. This would be deemed a legitimate reason to withdraw and NZ Cricket would avoid the $2.8 million fine.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald yesterday released his Zimbabwe Sports Sanction Bill, which would make it illegal for a national sports team to tour the African nation and would prohibit Zimbabwe teams touring New Zealand.

Any team that defied the law would be fined $50,000 and have all its Government funding revoked for one financial year.

Last night, NZ Cricket would not comment on the bill, saying it had not had time to examine it.

With only three parliamentary sitting days left before the tour, the bill would need to be pushed through all stages when Parliament resumes on July 26. Mr Goff said the Government would consider the bill, but it had "significant problems".

It would be a dangerous precedent to legislate to stop a sporting body doing something and he was concerned the bill could stop New Zealanders travelling to Zimbabwe.

"We don't solve human rights problems in Zimbabwe by creating them in New Zealand."

Mr Donald would not comment on the effect a Government rejection of his bill would have on the relationship between the two parties - who are potential post-election coalition partners.

"We are handing the Government on a plate a mechanism to achieve that [stopping the tour]. If they reject that mechanism then I'm afraid they will be open to widespread criticism. I hope they will look seriously at this bill."

Progressive leader Jim Anderton, a keen cricketer and friend of NZ Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden, said he was also drafting a bill to stop the tour.

"I am considering legislative measures that would stop this particular tour and do it in such a way that NZ Cricket doesn't get crushed."

National Party leader Don Brash said the party would not support Mr Donald's bill.

"While we are opposed to the cricket tour, we regard legislating to curtail the freedom of New Zealanders to travel as draconian."

Act leader Rodney Hide and United Future leader Peter Dunne both said the bill would limit New Zealanders' freedom to travel.

The tour

* 77 per cent of New Zealanders are in favour of cancelling the Black Caps' tour to Zimbabwe, a One News Colmar Brunton poll found last week.
* In recent weeks President Robert Mugabe's regime has driven people out of the cities and into the country by bulldozing their homes and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.