Taranaki-based lawyer Neal Harding was surprised to be told by security staff at the ASB Classic on Wednesday that he had to remove his Toitū Te Tiriti shirt, a request a spokesperson for the event later said was a mistake.
Harding had travelled to Auckland with his 10-year-old daughter, Skylah, and said they had mostly enjoyed “a lovely day”, apart from an interaction with security staff that he described as “out of left field nonsense”.
Harding said he was pulled aside at the entrance to the tennis tournament and, although he could not recall the staff member’s exact wording, was told that his shirt was not allowed as the venue was trying to avoid “contentious” issues.
When he disputed the request, Harding said the staff member said he would speak to the security manager and allowed him to go to his seat.
Harding said another staff member approached him about 15 minutes later and told him the shirt was “unacceptable”. Harding decided to turn the shirt inside out and took a photo of himself.
He said the same staff member left, but then returned and told him, “actually, I need to take your shirt”, despite him now wearing it inside out.
Harding said the staff member left after he refused to hand over the shirt.
In a rain break, Harding decided to track down the tournament’s management to speak with them about the incident, however as he went to find them he was met with a security manager at the bottom of the stairs.
Harding said the manager gave him a “firm handshake” and apologised for the incident.
He said the manager explained that the request was the result of a miscommunication and that their concern was with international politics.
It comes after protesters against Israeli player Lina Glushko, who had served in the defence force in Israel, brought play to a halt on two courts at the ASB Classic on Monday.
An ASB Classic spokesperson said Harding was “incorrectly” requested by event security to cover his shirt.
“This was a mistake and misunderstanding of the guidelines. Once the situation was brought to our attention, the patron was located and an apology was given for the error of judgement,” they said.
Harding said he wore the shirt to affirm his personal commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“There’s the big treaty that parliament puts in legislation, and there’s the little treaty that you sort of carry around within yourself. So I bought it to support the issue,” he said.
- Stuff
