Judith Collins
National Party MP
7 May 2006
Comment on post-powhiri walk-out
National Party MP Judith Collins is standing by the decision by three National MPs to walk out on a select committee
visit to a CYF facility after insults were thrown following a powhiri.
“Georgina Beyer has absolutely no grounds to attack the actions of myself or my colleagues. We sought in advance to make
sure there would be no powhiri where women would be expected to take a back-seat - and despite those assurances there
was.”
Ms Collins is referring to an incident at the Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice North centre in Manurewa on Friday afternoon
where they were rebuked by a kaumatua for breaching powhiri protocol.
“Afterwards we received an apology and I am disappointed that Georgina Beyer sought to play personal politics with it.”
Ms Collins says Labour had promised to crackdown on unnecessary powhiri.
“Helen Clark said she had dealt with this nonsense after she appointed powhiri Minister Trevor Mallard. She failed.”
Ends