Hon Jim Anderton
Progressive Leader
Member of Parliament for Wigram
20 June 2006 Media Statement
Where were the Nats over the past 57 years on Nancy Wake?
Jim Anderton reacted with disbelief at Judith Collin's latest statement in which she declared that she had, in fact,
nominated Nancy Wake for a New Zealand honour, in February 2006.
"Judith Collins is mistaken if she thinks writing a letter of support to the Prime Minister for Nancy Wake is the same
as nominating a person for a New Zealand honour. She clearly, at the very least, does not understand the Honours'
nomination system," Jim Anderton said.
"What surprises me most, though, about the intense commitment the National Party professes to have about getting a New
Zealand honour for Nancy Wake is that they have waited so long. National has been in government for 40 years in between
1949 till 2006 and they have not nominated or conferred an honour on her in all that time.
"Suddenly in 2006, they have found someone to blame for this – me! This is a graphic example of political hypocrisy at
its best. I don't resile from my earlier statement that calls into question the motivation of those who are raising this
issue, in this way, at this time," Jim Anderton said today.
ENDS