INDEPENDENT NEWS

Body Snatchers get Dover's credibility

Published: Wed 17 May 2000 10:29 AM
The "Body Snatchers" have got to Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels and are turning him into a zombie to political expediency.
Northland MP John Carter says in the past Dover Samuels vehemently opposed the allocation of funding or assets on racial grounds - saying there is only one New Zealand.
Dover when in opposition was consistent in his views.
It is well known that he is under some pressure in his portfolio and as a consequence he, along with Michael Cullen, have had to bow to the pressure of the Labour Alliance bloc Maori caucus.
Mr Carter says the only Maori who benefit from that deal are an elite few of high rollers and political appointees who can now afford to upgrade to a more recent model of BMW.
"There are no guarantees of more jobs or education for Maori, because this deal is simply about political expediency".
"Mr Samuels has admitted in the House that this has nothing to do with the Treaty but is merely a payout to Maori.
"It is a dreadful precedent set on apartheid lines. Can we now expect that other New Zealand assets such as part of our port facilities, part of our roading networks or part of our airports will be handed over just to appease Maori" concluded John Carter.
Ends

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