'Ban' on Labour MPs speaking at Pasifika Festival

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Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni has accused Auckland City Council officials of preventing MPs from her party from being allowed to speak on the main stage at the Pasifika Festival in Auckland today.

The Western Springs festival, which celebrates Pacific culture and features performers from several Pacific islands, involves addresses from Auckland Mayor John Banks and Prime Minister John Key, but Ms Sepuloni said it appeared to have become politicised.

"Yes, the Auckland City Council is running the event, so John Banks has every right to speak to those enjoying the festival, but for an order to go out to ban Labour MPs from addressing the crowds is just petty," she said.

"In the past all political persuasions have been welcome on stage at Pasifika. But in the year of local body elections it seems the incumbent is trying to screw the scrum."

A spokesman from the council said as far as he was aware there had been no instruction from officials to ban anyone from speaking at the festival.

"It's just that when the programme was put together there was space set aside for the mayor and prime minister to speak," he said.

Scheduling constraints meant time set aside for speeches was limited.

- NZPA