September 4, 2002
Tamihere A Pot Calling The Kettle Black - Donnelly
“The speech today by John Tamihere in the Address and Reply debate was a disgraceful example of racism”, says New
Zealand First MP, Brian Donnelly.
“He first made an offensive reference to Asian stereotypes related to ‘squinting’ ”.
“He continued to claim that the New Zealand First Maori MP’s were only part-time Maoris and to refer to Pita Paraone in
an Anglicisation of his name”.
“He then went on to claim he opposed racism having spent the first part of his speech indulging in it for political
reasons”.
“The question that needs to be asked is why is the media are not headlining John Tamihere, a Minister of the Crown, as a
racist, after the remarks he made in the House?,” asks Brian Donnelly.
ENDS