New Zealand police have questioned known political activists about their protest plans for this year's rugby World Cup, asking some whether they would alert authorities if contacted by terrorists, local media reported.

Joe Carolan, an organiser for the Unite union which represents low-paid workers, told the New Zealand Herald "three massive lads" in uniform had visited union offices and asked about planned World Cup protests.

Carolan said the policemen had asked "'If any terrorists got in touch with you, would you contact us?' And we just looked at each other. Of course we're opposed to terrorism."

The Unite union is one of a number of groups planning protests during the World Cup in September and October. Carolan said the union's protests would highlight the low wages of hotel staff and security guards.

Meredydd Barrar, a spokesman for the Coalition for Social Justice, said it and other protest groups were planning acts of "civil disobedience" to disrupt the tournament.

"(We) intend to take action during the RWC to alert the world that New Zealand is not as squeaky clean as people might perceive," Barrar told the New Zealand Herald.

The protests would highlight recent moves by New Zealand's right-of-centre government which, Barrar said, would adversely affect poor New Zealanders.

Groups representing New Zealand's indigenous Maori say they are also planning World Cup protests, taking advantage of the tournament's worldwide audience to highlight grievances over land ownership and other issues.

Activists Titewhai Harawira and Ngaire Te Hira said they planned protests which would "expose" New Zealand's treatment of Maori.

Police spokeswoman Annie Coughlan said calls on protest groups were part of routine preparations for a major event, to ensure the best possible deployment of police resources.

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