This afternoon Wellingtonians were treated to some extreme theatre during a rally organised to protest human rights abuses in China. Various actors portraying members of the banned (in China) Falun Gong movement were busy being tormented on flat deck trucks while other unfortunates were having their organs harvested possibly without anaesthetic.

Later outside New Zealand's parliament buildings a number of speakers outlined their concerns about the NZ Government's attitude to China and human rights abuses within that country. Speakers included Ced Simpson from Amnesty International, United Future Leader Peter Dunne, members of the NZ Falun Gong movementt and former Chinese diplomat and currently outspoken critic of the Chinese Government - Mr Yonglin Chen.

Near the end of the speeches Labour MP Maryan Street took the microphone to point out that the government that she represents was engaged with China over Human Rights abuses.

Ms Street seemed to happy to stand next to chinese dissident Yonglin Chen during the earlier speeches many of which excoriated her Government's pursuit of a free trade deal with China.

Listen to Labour MP Maryan Street speak at a rally to protest human rights abuses in China

Green MP Keith Locke was particularly critical of the Government's stance on China. However the Green Party does not consider a Free Trade deal with China to be beneficial to the New Zealand economy.

An organiser of the event pointed out that National's Leader John key had also been asked to speak at the rally but had declined and had also declined to send any National MP's to attend on his behalf. National is the only party currently in Parliament to have an MP of Chinese descent - Pansy Wong.

The event was organised by Amnesty International, the Green Party, Friends of Tibet and Falun Gong.

Listen to United Future leader Peter Dunne speak at a rally to protest human rights abuses in China

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>