Wellington - About 10,000 people, mainly Asian immigrants, staged a march through suburban Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, on Saturday calling for a crackdown on violent crime following three homicides last month.

Two of the murder victims were Chinese immigrants and the third a Sikh liquor store owner shot dead in a burglary.

Auckland contains New Zealand's biggest Asian immigrant population and the march organisers claimed they were being targeted by criminals and were not given enough protection by the police.

Police estimated the march at 10,000 strong and said it extended two-and-a-half kilometres through the streets of suburban Botany Downs.

The march was organised by a body called the Anti-Crime Group, whose chairman Peter Low told Radio New Zealand the number taking part should alert politicians to how people felt about the crime wave.

Law and order looks certain to be a major issue in the campaign for the general election scheduled for later this year when the Labour-led coalition government, which has ruled since 1999, will seek another three year term in office. (dpa)