Man called for Auckland riot to ‘see action’

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 6

Man called for Auckland riot to ‘see action’

PA Auckland Posters calling on people to riot in Queen Street were placed in central Auckland by a man wanting to “see some action,” the District Court in Auckland heard yesterday. Sergeant Bill . Richard said that, in response to the posters, which called for people to riot on Friday, November 22, 50 police were mobilised and kept on standby for four hours.

Appearing yesterday on a charge of distributing public documents that expressed seditious intentions, was Kenneth Murray McKenzie, aged 35, a solderer, of Royal Oak, Auckland.

Sergeant Richard said the police would not offer evidence on that charge,

to which McKenzie had pleaded not guilty. He pleaded guilty to a substitute charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place, namely Queen Street. Sergeant Richard said McKenzie had admitted to the police on November 21 that he had written the poster and placed about 10 copies round the city. The posters called for support of the New Zealand Revolutionary Party and oflhe proposed riot. They stated the intention of the riot was to "bring the Government to their knees.”

Sergeant Richard said the 50 police were mobilised in case a riot developed.

McKenzie told the police a riot appealed to a sadistic part of his nature,

because he liked watching violence. He did not like being involved and would not have taken part in a riot.

He said he had put up the posters because he was bored with the peace and complacency of his life and he wanted to “see some action.”

Counsel for McKenzie, Mr lan Bullock, said McKenzie had put posters at several sites round the city, including one on the door of the High Court

He said McKenzie had since been dismissed from his job, and his church had disowned him.

"What this man. really wants is help rather than punishment” said Mr Bullock. “His political activities seem to be a form of escapism.” Previously McKenzie had circulated a petition to Parliament campaigning against lawlessness, Mr Bullock said.

Judge Blackwood told McKenzie he was inciting a repetition of the Queen Street riot of December, 1984.

He told McKenzie he was fortunate that the police had not proceeded with the "very serious” charge of seditious intent.

“What you were inciting people to do in this instance was to riot in Queen Street with the intention of overthrowing the Government.”

The Judge imposed the maximum penalty, a $5{JO fine-rfor the charge of disorderly behaviour.