Tony Ryall National Justice Spokesman
16 August 2000
PM has a lot to answer for
The Prime Minister must immediately apologise to the Police Officer involved in the Waitara shooting, his family and the
entire New Zealand police force for accusations of racism over the Waitara shooting, National's Justice spokesman Tony
Ryall said today.
"The Police Report released today concludes that there is 'absolutely no evidence race was an issue in this tragic
event'. The PM waded in without the facts, with her own prejudices and came to a conclusion that was completely
unfounded," Mr Ryall said.
The Prime Minister alleged on the 4th of May that Police relationships with Maori had a bearing on the Waitara shooting
and compared the Waitara incident to 'shootings by the Metropolitan Police in London of young blacks and shootings by
the Los Angeles police'. In Parliament on the 9th of May the Prime Minister stood by her statements and refused to
apologise to the Police and other New Zealanders.
"At a time when the people of Waitara needed support, the Prime Minister inflamed racial tensions. The policeman and his
family had to move out of the district.
"The New Zealand Police deserve an apology for the unfounded, undermining statements the Prime Minister made in the
aftermath of the shooting," Mr Ryall said.
Ends