Goff does too little on Zimbabwe, lets hope its not too late

The Greens applaud Foreign Minister Phil Goff's latest effort to stop the Black Caps going to Zimbabwe, says Co-Leader Rod Donald.

"We only wish he had acted on our call back in April for the Government to do everything in their power to stop the Black Caps' tour from proceeding, instead of waiting till the eleventh hour to put pressure on the International Cricket Council."

Mr Goff today said he is asking the British and Australian governments to join him in making a tripartite representation to the ICC's meeting in London to get cricket contacts with Zimbabwe severed.

"Mr Goff's actions on the Black Caps' tour have been slow and weak at every step. For reasons that escape me, this former frontline Springbok tour protester has been following public opinion rather than leading it.

"The Foreign Minister didn't need to wait until the New Zealand public's morale outrage at Mugabe's vicious treatment of his own people reached a crescendo.

"I remain convinced that our Government has the power to trigger the 'force majeure' clause in NZ Cricket's contract with the ICC, which would get them out of the tour without having to pay a fine, and without Internal Affairs having to withhold the team's passports.

"I challenge Mr Goff to release the legal advice he has on this, so that I can get a second legal opinion on it," said Mr Donald.

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