Maori Party Talks Double-Speak

Wednesday 15 Sep 2004

Rodney Hide - Press Releases - Other

ACT New Zealand Leader Rodney Hide today accused Maori Party Co-Leader Dr Pita Sharples of talking double-speak in claiming that the Maori Party was for all New Zealanders.

"Does Dr Sharples really expect us to believe they're called `The Maori Party' only because `The New Zealand Party' was taken? I don't think so.

"Here's the opening statement from the Maori Party's web page declaring its aims:

`The Maori Party is born of the dreams and aspirations of tangata whenua to achieve self-determination for whanau, hapu and iwi within their own land'.

"The Maori Party has as its stated aim:

`To ensure that the Party is of the Maori people'.

"Dr Sharples may care to explain how the Maori Party is `of the Maori people' yet standing up for everyone.

"He won't because he can't.

"The Maori Party is race-based and separatist. The only difference between the Maori Party and the National Front is that one is pushing for brown New Zealanders while the other is pushing for white New Zealanders.

"They are both equally repugnant; they are both equally divisive," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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