Student protesters offering $NZ5000 ($A3,881) to anyone who can make a "citizens arrest" of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have been warned they are out of their depth.
Auckland police district commander Superintendent Brett England said he was concerned by the Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) stunt and anyone trying to follow it through faced "very serious consequences".
Dr Rice is visiting Auckland this weekend for talks with the New Zealand Government.
"We are obliged to ensure the safety and security of the visiting guest and we will not shirk from that task," Mr England said.
"Operational planning for this visit has been in the making for several months and there are highly effective security measures in place.
"I would strongly advise the association representatives who've put this challenge out, to withdraw it immediately so as to avoid being caught up in something much bigger than they may have anticipated."
AUSA president David Do said the arrest would be for her Rice's rp;e in "overseeing the illegal invasion and continued occupation" of Iraq.
AUSA international affairs officer Omar Hamed said Dr Rice's involvement in the war in Iraq was a crime under the Geneva Conventions Act 1958, and the Crimes of Torture Act 1989, and the association would ask police to arrest and prosecute her.
