Media are exposing the tactics used by the Chinese officials in New Zealand to interfere with the Divine Performing Arts show after they attempted to pressure VIPs, politicians, and sponsors of the show to withdraw their support.
The issue received attention after North Shore Mayor George Wood confirmed to The Epoch Times that he was initially going to attend the show with his wife, but changed his mind after being pressured by the Chinese Consul General's office.
The New Zealand Herald , the country's largest newspaper, published a lead story on it's second page entitled "Chinese pressure arts-show guests", which also reported a spokesman for Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard confirmed he had received a phone call from the Chinese consulate, but said Mr. Hubbard already had a prior engagement.
One of New Zealand's most highly respected radio presenters and former television hosts, Paul Holmes, discussed the Chinese communist regime's attempts to interfere with Divine Performing Arts on his nationwide primetime radio show the morning of the performance.
Mr. Holmes said he was outraged by the "evil cult" attempting to pressure New Zealand citizens.
TVNZ's One News also ran a prime time report on the six o'clock news about the phone calls conducted by the Chinese Consulate, and added that Chinese students were reportedly told if they are photographed at the event they will not be allowed back in their home country.
The media reports and commentaries in criticism of the Chinese regime's efforts follow just one week after Wellington journalist Nick Wang was escorted out of the Beehive by a uniformed police officer at a photo opportunity between New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Deputy Premier of China Zeng Peiyan.
Mr. Wang, who has written reports on human rights abuses in China, said he was accused of being a "trouble maker". He also said the officials thought he was a Falun Gong practitioner, which has been banned in China but is free to practise everywhere else in the world.
Mr Wang said he is an accredited member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and has covered events at Parliament for nine years.
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