New Zealand First has dumped its Maori candidate for Te Tai Tokerau, replacing him with a man hand picked by Winston
Peters, Mauri Pacific leader Tau Henare said today.
"New Zealand First has shown why Maori should never trust the party. If you are not a Winston puppet prepared to jump
at his beck and call, then don't bother with the party. Its Winston First, pakeha second and Maori a token
consideration."
Mr Henare said the dumped New Zealand First candidate, Anaru George, was a good, decent man, who did not deserve the
party?s underhand tactics.
He said Anaru George was being unethically dumped to make way for Maori Trustee, Pita Paraone, a close friend of
Winston Peters.
"Three months ago, Tutekawa Wyllie trumpeted the selection of Anaru George as based on tikanga. Has tikanga now
determined that Anaru should be dumped?" Mr Henare asked.
"New Zealand First has alienated many Maori in Tai Tokerau, and in doing so, it has also revealed that it will continue
to treat Maori as second class citizens," Tau Henare said.
ENDS