Protesters call for short skirts

Wellington - New Zealanders were bombarded yesterday by e-mails urging women to put on short skirts and large earrings to support…

Wellington - New Zealanders were bombarded yesterday by e-mails urging women to put on short skirts and large earrings to support a flamboyant former government official who claims she lost her job over her dress sense.

Ms Christine Rankin, who headed New Zealand's largest government department, is claiming 818,000 New Zealand dollars ($333,000) compensation after her employment contract was not renewed. She told the employment court this week that senior government officials and ministers advised her to tone down her clothes.