Green Party defend anti-war white ribbon plans

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has said he supports the call for people to wear white ribbons in opposition to war on St Patrick's Day.

Festival organisers have accused anti-war campaigners of trying to politicise the event by urging people to wear peace ribbons as well as traditional shamrock.

However Trevor Sargent says he believes wearing a ribbon for peace during the St Patrick's festival would be above politics.

"If you are somebody in Iraq who is waiting for bombs to fall on their head, whether you call it a political bomb or outright violence, it is to me something that cannot be overlooked," he said.

"It is not politicising it, this is not a political war, it is a war that is about oil and about control and it should be beyond politics and should be cross party. It is simply in the interest of peace and that is what the heart of St Patrick's Day is about."