A group of yellow and black-clad Amnesty International supporters are outside the Australian Consulate in Auckland to urge Australian officials to investigate people-smuggling allegations.
Protestors gathered outside the consulate on Quay St at 8.15am this morning carrying signs emblazoned with slogans such as "Australia = people smuggler?'' and "Australia: human rights abuser''.
Amnesty International yesterday released a detailed report, entitled By Hook or By Crook, into an incident in May where Australian officials turned around a boat with asylum seekers that was apparently attempting to get to New Zealand.
The asylum seekers have claimed crew members on the boat were paid by Australian border patrol officials to turn the boat back to Indonesia - an allegation refuted by Australia, which said it acted in order to save life at sea.
The Government has said it has no information about any alleged payments.
There are about 20 people at the protest.
