Rotorua protest low key?

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 3

Rotorua protest low key?

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN

in Rotorua

Protest action at today’s Springbok match against Bay of Plenty was expected to be “low key." said the commander of the Rotorua police district. Chief Superintendent P. S. Revell, yesterday.

Mr Revell said that some protesters were expected from other centres, but not in large numbers. The biggest of four anti-tour marches in Rotorua was last Saturday, when about 80

people took part. A council permit has been issued for a march today which will start in Rotorua at 12.30 p.m. The march would be stopped at Smallbone Park, about 400 metres from the match venue, said Mr Revell. However, he said that the marchers might not. be aware of this as no contact had been made with them, in spite of efforts by the police. The Army was busy yesterday at the Rotorua International Stadium, where the match will be played, installing the now-customary barbed-wire barricades. These have been placed both inside the ground and across large open spaces outside it. Admission to the ground will be by ticket only, but Mr Revell said that the police were not ruling out the possibility of anti-tour factions having obtained tickets. In spite of HART assertions that it would hound the Springboks night and day in Rotorua, the visit so far has been virtually free of protests. The only incident was at 11 p.m. on Monday when about 30 demonstrators made a noisy appearance outside the team’s hotel.

However, they stayed for no more than five minutes. They were moved by the police. The Springboks have moved freely about the streets of Rotorua and many have visited the area’s tourist attractions. Rotorua’s “Daily Post" on Monday asking that the city show its customary warmth to visitors from overseas has not gone unheeded.