WAS 9/11 really an inside job – or is the small group of Wellingtonians who think so just a fringe group who should be ignored?
Whatever the truth about the destruction of New York’s Twin Towers, the doubters here are very determined not to be ignored.
New Zealanders for 9/11 Truth (which has about four core members) has handed out more than a thousand DVD documentaries at Wellington train station and Manners Mall that question how the towers collapsed.
The group has given out DVDs at the Southern Cross bar, sent out dozens more to local architects, and pooled their money to fly an outspoken 9/11 sceptic from the US to speak at Te Papa.
Phillip Rose, 57, (above) a musician who lives in Aro Valley, hands out DVDs with his group on the 11th of every month, and says they gave away 250 in July alone.
Mr Rose says his group would rather talk than be met with close-mindedness: “Bring them on.”
“There are very few supporters of the official message who are willing to engage in debate with people who support, for want of a better term, the inside job theory, and that’s because the facts are on our side.”
He says people of all ages have returned to tell the group they have passed the DVDs on to their friends.
Using their own money and donations to their website, the group has raised a four figure sum to fly Richard Gage, an architect who believes the twin towers were collapsed by a controlled demolition, to speak at Te Papa on November 21.
Mr Rose says the group is prepared for problems, such as venue-owners withdrawing at the last minute, as had happened in Australia.
“What’s happened with these guys before was that they’ll have a venue and then right at the last minute they’ll (venue-owners) pull it.”
Greg Crott, chairman of the New Zealand American Association, which is dedicated to fostering friendship between the two countries, says he is familiar with Twin Towers theories circulating on the internet.
“Individuals who want to get involved in that sort of activity, that’s really over to them. I’m not sure how much traction they’re getting or not.”
US Embassy spokesperson Janine Burns says conspiracy theories surrounding September 11 have been debunked repeatedly and she would not comment further.