Games boss criticises missing New Zealand PM

MELBOURNE, Mar 21 (Reuters) They may have been dubbed ''the friendly Games'' but that hasn't stopped Melbourne 2006 chairman Ron Walker from launching an unexpected broadside at New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Walker said he had invited Clark to attend the March 15-26 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and was unhappy that she had not shown up.

''I'm disappointed Helen Clark didn't see fit to travel three hours to come over here,'' Walker told reporters today.

''Obviously she was either too busy or doesn't like sport or both of those things, but it would have been nice for her to come and support her athletes,'' he said.

Walker, a Victoria state powerbroker, is also Australian Formula One Grand Prix boss and chairman of Australian newspaper publisher John Fairfax Holdings.

Clark's Labour government was in damage control mode on Tuesday after the resignation of Attorney General David Parker over allegations he had filed false company returns.

New Zealand Sports Minister Trevor Mallard has attended several events since the Games opened on Wednesday. Sports-mad Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been a frequent visitor and U.S.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice even took time out from a visit for security talks last week to attend sessions of boxing, weightlifting and swimming.

Trans-Tasman rivalry had already been spiked after an Australian newspaper criticised the number of times New Zealand athletes had performed the haka, a traditional indigenous Maori war dance made famous by the country's rugby team.

The Australian newspaper complained yesterday that New Zealand's rugby side had performed half a dozen haka after their gold medal last Friday.

New Zealand swimmers and officials performed a stirring haka after Moss Burmester won the 200m butterfly on Thursday but then did another to celebrate a bronze in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

''The haka is powerful medicine, a way of welcoming honoured guests and of intimidating foes. Don't devalue it,'' The Australian wrote.

But New Zealand team officials were unrepentant today.

''The first question is - too many for whom?'' New Zealand chef-de-mission Dave Currie told The New Zealand Herald.

''Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi doesn't quite cut it,'' he said of the popular Australian chant.

Reuters PM DB0932