Northern Maori Furious Over National Rebuff

Two days after Prime Minister John Key promised a more inclusive approach to Maori issues, a group of Ngapuhi are furious over what they see as the National Party turning their back on Maori.

On Sunday, a commemoration service was held for the 100th anniversary of the death of the famous Ngapuhi parliamentarian and chief, Hone Heke Ngapua.

Representatives from Labour, the Greens, and the Maori Party attended, but none from National.

"This is a disgrace", says David Rankin, who was involved with organising the event. "We had the Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau lead the event, we sent invitations to every Member of Parliament, and all sent representatives except National".

"Mr. Key talks about unity and respect for Maori, but he failed to walk the talk. A lot of out kaumatua who were at the event were surprised that the Government did not even have the courtesy to send a single person to the commemoration", he says.

"This is not only an insult to us", says Mr. Rankin, who descends from the Ngapua whanau, "but also to our ancestor, who did so much for the Maori people a century ago". He has written to the Prime Minister requesting an apology to the kaumatua who were present at Sunday's event, and who he believes were disregarded by the Government.

ENDS

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