An estimated 10,000 people have taken part in a rally in the New Zealand city of Auckland to protest against violence directed at Asians in the city.

Local police say the demonstration stretched about 2.5 kilometres through the streets of south Auckland where three people of Asian descent have been killed in the past month.

The march was organised by the Asian Anti-Crime group and included people carrying coffins and placards with pictures of those killed.

Others carried New Zealand flags and signs calling for tougher sentencing and zero tolerance for crime.

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