Media Release

18 February 2003

Gays And Immigrants?
You Must Be Joking Says Peters

New Zealand First wants to know who is paying for gay immigrant advocate Professor Richard Florida to come to this country for the so-called Knowledge Wave conference.

Professor Florida, reputed to be an American expert on urban redevelopment, is reported in the New Zealand Herald today, as saying the secret to a thriving city is more gays and immigrants.

He says gays are one of the best indicators of a new creative class of thinkers and artists who now drive economic growth.

Rt Hon Winston Peters said today that the report would surely be music to the ears of the minority Labour-led government, which loved tinkering with social, political and ethnic issues.

“Most New Zealanders however, would probably regard this expert as a crackpot. We are already being swamped by an invasion of immigrants and it is hard to see how someone’s sexual preference is a major factor in their economic contribution.

“New Zealand is not some trendy metropolis. We suggest that he leave the coffee bars in Queen Street and the night sights of K Road and look at real New Zealand while he is here.

“Perhaps he could visit a dairy farm, a factory or go out in a deep sea fishing boat. The last thing that New Zealand needs is another expert like Professor Florida telling us what we need,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media