SOLO NZ Press Release:

Time to End Racism in NZ
23 May, 2009

As support gathers for next Monday’s hikoi protesting the lack of Maori seats on Auckland’s Super City Council we’re reminded that racism is alive and well in New Zealand, says SOLO-NZ Coordinator Glenn Jameson.

“John Key’s intervention last month in overturning the Royal Commission’s recommendation to include automatic Maori representation on the new Super City Council struck a resounding blow to racist policy. It’s time Government bodies stopped treating Maori as though they were incapable of gaining positions of power without mandatory quotas. I’m dismayed that leaders of Auckland Iwi and the Maori Party would tolerate such a patronising proposal. Surely Maori have come far enough in our society to deserve to be treated with respect, rather than like handicapped citizens requiring special access ramps to the halls of local government,” notes Jameson.

“Commentators like Matt McCarten and Willy Jackson who point fingers and cry ‘Racist!’ are clearly oblivious to the mirrors in front of them. Either that or they simply don’t understand the meaning of racism. By any definition of the word John Key’s action does not suggest he believes the white European to be superior in any way. In fact by abolishing the three council seats reserved exclusively for Maori he is in effect saying skin colour is irrelevant to fitness for public office.

“Jackson’s low expectations of his own people were particularly shocking when he stated that the proposed seats were probably three more than they would have gained through the democratic process. McCarten, on the other hand, who lamented that none of the ten Maori currently represented in local body politics ran on a platform of being a voice for Maori, seems disappointed they got there on a platform of being a voice for constituents of every shade.

“Rather than slamming the Government’s decision to abolish these Maori seats, Dr Pita Sharples should be commending the move, and looking forward to the day when all Maori MPs are elected on their merits – not their race,” Jameson concludes.

ends

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