Chinese govt request 'breach of human rights'

@nigel - have you ever thought about moving to China? Your authoritarian, anti-freedom views on religion just might prove to be more favorable there.

I've found that very few mainland Chinese living in NZ have a clear grasp of their country's recent history and therefore it is no surprise that the CCP government feels local Chinese communities around the world will be swayed by calls for loyalty from overseas based Chinese officials. The central dilemma for China over the past two hundred years has always been how to absorb modernity while still maintaining a sense of being 'chinese'. The 20th century was a traumatic rite of transition with enormous loss of life for a collection of indigenous cultures, and religions, including those of the Han, that for most of it's history has known itself as the 'Middle Kingdom'. Despite recent economic successes due to ceding to the WTO charter, the Communist government continues to cover up the unparalleled and totally unnecessary disaster of its rule on Chinese society over the last 60 years. What is needed for China now, is an honest awakening to the established facts of history, resulting in truth and reconciliation along with self determination and choice over governance for Chinese citizens. Shen Yun and other elements on the leading edge of the most recent Chinese diaspora, represent an exploration and chance for reevaluation and renewal of what it means to be of Chinese descent in a global society during the 21st century. As a New Zealander, I saw Shen Yun's show in Auckland in 2010 and found it to be neither political nor controversial, but deeply affecting as a sophisticated, well thought out international cultural performance. Despite unforseen social and economic changes in New Zealand over the last 30 years it is still very unlikely Chinese Consul General in Auckland, Liao Juhua will have any success hoodwinking the New Zealand public on the Chinese Communist Party's true agenda! Congratulations and garlands to councillor Cathy Casey for bringing this issue to national attention!

I'm always cautious and sceptical about anything a totalitarian government says - but particularly the P.R.C. This is OUR country, with OUR diversity of cultures and beliefs. Haere atu!! (Go away.)

if this actually happened the way it is described (other commenters seem to dispute this) the individual in question should be throw out of the job/country or have his credentials revoked, or whatever one does to such people. there are reasons people worry about foreign influence upon our country, China and the USA being the foreign influences most commonly noticed and objected to. this sort of behavior is not at all acceptable. (not that i particularly approve of Falun Gong either. such incidents as a Falun Gong float (or some such) in a Christmas display are baffling at best... the doctrine of multiculturalism as a Goal rather than an incidental side effect is something i find extremely problematic...) China's already got an empire to run, whatever they're calling it, much like the USA. let them stick to doing so and leave us alone.

The Chinese communist government thinks the international press is always trying to make them look bad. China does a good job all by themselves. Today New Zealand, yesterday Germany. The AP reports Germany just indicted a German for spying on Falun gong for Chinese intelligence service in Germany from 2006 to 2010. He apparently was one of the groups' founding members in Germany! How nice. China is irrational and obsessed with persecuting this eccentric but harmless group. http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1503084&lang=eng_news

Suprise, suprise, TV3 writes a misleading news story. Seriously guys, you do realise that you are a heavy influence on society, you should be acting appropriately considering this responsibility. Don't follow in the footsteps of Fox; they are not doing as well as they could because everyone knows by now all they do is spout sensationalist nonsense.

I am a resident of Dr Cathy Casey's electorate. I am very angry with the Chinese Communist Party attempting to put pressure upon how Dr Casey exercises her freedom of will. Dr Casey should be commended for exposing this interference with the activities of an elected official. It amounts to interference in the internal affairs of another state. Well done, Dr Cathy Casey.

There is no misrepresentation on Dr Casey's part. It is a unacceptable to try to excuse the Chinese Consulate by claiming it is exercising freedom of speech. The Chinese Consulate can not defend itself that way. This is because whatever it says must not violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other International law instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights among others. These instruments make it clear that Diplomatic missions are not permitted to interfere in the internal relations of an other state, neither are they permitted to incite discrimination, hostility, or engage in unlawful attacks on the honour or reputation of others. The language in the Chinese Consulate's letter is inflammatory, extreme and slanderous. The TV3 item is very helpful.

The Chinese did the right thing banning Falun Gong, free speech notwithstanding!

Tell teh Chinese to mind their own business. John Key should get that guy into his office and publicly rebuke him.

Make him lose face quicktime.