Guest guest Posted November 15, 2000 Report Share Posted November 15, 2000 from New Zealand Herald, > 15/11/00 - More heat on Vodafone bash [party] > > By SCOTT INGLIS > > First it was topless Thai strippers, now it's accusations of ill-treating > animals and breaking bylaws. > > Vodafone's Christmas party, held in Auckland last Friday night, has run > into new trouble - this time with animal welfare activists and the > Auckland City Council. > > Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe) has attacked the party's organisers > for having an elephant and a monkey at the function, saying it was cruel > and dangerous to make the animals endure loud music and 1400 guests. It > had received three complaints. > > The Auckland City Council also said the organisers and owner of the > animals did not have a permit to have the elephant on public property, as > required under city bylaws covering exotic animals. > > The party, at St James Theatre, outraged some staff because topless Thai > strippers wearing g-strings cavorted with Vodafone workers in a steamy > routine. > > A complaint has been made to the Human Rights Commission, which will today > begin an investigation. Four complaints were also made to the Herald. > > The theme for the night was " One Night in Bangkok. " The monkey, an > eight-year-old called Laurie, was inside the theatre with partygoers, and > Jumbo, a 25-year-old elephant, was at the Lorne St entrance, on the > pavement or in a trailer parked on the roadside. > > Safe campaign director Gary Reese told the Herald two complaints had been > received over the elephant and another about the monkey. > > The Herald received similar calls on the night. > > Mr Reese said it was inappropriate to have an elephant in the city at > night around drinking partygoers. > > " It's just a very uncontrolled situation. And you can't control an > elephant if something happens. " > > City council events facilitation manager Tara Pradhan said permission was > needed to have exotic animals on public property - and it would not > normally be granted. > > The organisers, Madant Promotions, had twice unsuccessfully applied to > block off Queen St and Lorne St for the elephant. > > A permit was obtained to park a truck outside St James Theatre in Lorne > St, but the council parking division did not know the truck would have an > elephant inside. > > " I think if they'd mentioned that, then perhaps a different approach might > have been taken. I've spoken to the organisers and made them understand > the processes and told them we expect them to comply in the future. " > > Madant spokesman Tony Piggott said it was up to the owner of the animals, > Tony Ratcliffe of Whirling Brothers Circus, to organise the permit. > > Mr Ratcliffe told the Herald he was furious at Safe. " We care about our > animals, mate, " he said. > > Jumbo enjoyed herself and was never distressed, he said. " I absolutely > love her beyond anything else on this planet ... and there's no way I > would ill-treat her. > > " The monkey's beautiful - he loved it. " > > The partygoers and the public were never in any danger, he said. > > He believed he had followed the rules. When asked about council approval, > he replied: " Hey, I don't approve of the city council holding elephants > [in the zoo] the way they do, but I don't stop them. " > > Vodafone refused to be interviewed about the party yesterday, but in a > written statement said it regretted any offence caused by any of the > entertainment. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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