Judith Collins
National Party MP

26 May 2006

Call for Helen Clark to come clean on powhiri edict

National MP Judith Collins is calling on Prime Minister Helen Clark to come clean on the details of her edict that it is now her Government’s policy that women can sit in the front row during state powhiri.

She is commenting on reports that Labour MP Shane Jones is distancing himself from Helen Clark's directive, even refusing to accept that she issued it at all.

“When did Helen Clark issue this edict that Shane Jones apparently didn’t hear?

“Whom did she issue it to? What did she say and what was the reaction from her own MPs?

“Who is telling the truth here – Shane Jones who says she didn’t issue any such edict, or the Prime Minister?

“The fact that members of Helen Clark’s own party aren’t even aware of this policy makes it seem more and more likely that she simply created it on the hoof to get herself out of another embarrassing situation,” says Ms Collins.

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