United Future leader Peter Dunn is "horrified" that New Zealand athletes may not be able to voice their opinions at the Beijing Olympics.
New Zealand athletes have a clause in their contracts with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), which restricts their ability to speak on political matters.
The clause states that athletes must: "not make statements or demonstrations (whether verbally in writing or by any act or omission) regarding political, religious or racial matters".
Mr. Dunne said the clause has been in athletes' contracts for eight years, but that does not make it right.
"I think that the athletes that go to Beijing, ought to be able to speak out freely," he said.
"At the same time, we should expect them to behave properly...But to make them be silent about democracy and freedom, I think it is going too far, I think it is wrong," he said.
Human Rights MP Pushing For Removal of Clause
Green Party MP Keith Locke is also pushing to have the clause removed because every New Zealander should have the right to express their political opinion.
"If they (New Zealand athletes) see someone being dragged away because they are protesting something that is happening in China, then they should be able to say they don't like that."
He has written to the NZOC asking them to remove the clause and is putting pressure on the Minister of Sport Clayton Cosgrove to help push them to remove the clause.
"I will be pushing in Parliament until the clause is removed," he said.
Ministry Of Sport: Nothing To Do With Us
A spokesperson for the Minister of Sports Clayton Cosgrove said the clause had nothing to do with the Government and was a matter for NZOC.
"The Government doesn't receive, has never put advice in to the process," she said.
She said it would be inappropriate to comment on whether pressure form Mr. Locke would mean the Minister would work towards getting the NZOC to remove the clause. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on it at all given that the Government has not been briefed on it," she said.
Prime Minister Says Protest Could Lead to 'Extremely Awkward Situation'
Prime Minister Helen Clark said last week that restricting what New Zealand Olympic athletes can say in China is "realistic".
Miss. Clark said she stands for freedom of speech, but given that it is China, the advice the athletes are being given is "pretty realistic".
She said if an athlete unveiled a "Falun Gong banner in Beijing", pictures of them being dragged off by the police would lead to an "extremely awkward situation".
Miss. Clark was not available for further comment on Friday.
Coalition Says Clause Breaches Human Rights
The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG-NZ) said freedom of speech should never be sacrificed in order to appease the Chinese communist party.
CIPFG Spokesperson and Auckland barrister Carole Curtis said that unless the NZOC remove the clause from New Zealand athletes' contracts they are impinging on freedom of speech.
She said that the contract denies athletes a fundamental human right guaranteed under our New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
NZOC Secretary General Barry Maister said agreement is designed to protect athletes, the NZOC and the Olympic Games, but not to ban athletes from speaking.
"Athletes agree to reasonable limitations on what they can and can't say that could have a negative effect on the NZOC, the IOC or the Olympic Games," he said.
He said the intent of the agreement is "consistent with the Olympic Charter".
Former Olympic Medallist Says Freedom of Speech Important
New Zealand Olympic sliver medalist Dick Quax said he thinks athletes are unlikely to want to become involved in political activity.
"However, if a New Zealand athlete want to address their opinion, they should be free to do so. I don't think anybody wants to insult anybody, but freedom of expression is extremely important to us."
He said freedom of speech is very important to New Zealanders.
"In this country it is the right we have. It's the right of our forefathers' were forced to die for; just something we cannot give up quickly."
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