Needs Based, Race Based Or Political Opportunism?

New Zealand First has asked Don Brash to explain why he introduced scholarships for Maori and Pacific Island graduates while he was Governor of the Reserve Bank.

In a Parliamentary Question today, Mr Brown, Deputy Leader, asked the Prime Minister whether the Reserve Bank scholarship scheme for Maori and Pacific Islanders was a needs based or race based scheme.

The scheme was introduced in 1994 by the Reserve Bank when Don Brash was the Governor and the National Party the Government

“The Prime Minister responded by saying it was needs based to address racial advancement. I am not sure that will convince many New Zealanders. Maybe Don Brash should answer the question as he was there and he introduced the scheme, in later years enhancing it.

“The question Don Brash should specifically address is, was the Reserve Bank Maori Pacific Island scheme needs based or race based?”

“I have to say, I suspect his concerns now are based more on political opportunism. Surely it cannot be hypocrisy,” concluded Mr Brown.

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