MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
14 August 2014
Religion Now Reason for Attack on Election Hoardings
Concerns are emerging that election hoardings implying religion are being targeted after three separate attacks in
Auckland recently.
“I’m concerned that people may be misunderstanding my hoardings and reacting badly as a result” Maori Party Te Tai
Tokerau candidate Rev Te Hira Paenga said today.
“We had a complaint made to the advertising standards body claiming that my hoardings are objectionable and that I was
appearing in what they called a priest’s costume.”
“The complaint wasn’t upheld, basically because I don’t just dress up as a priest, I am actually a consecrated deacon in
the Anglican Church and the assistant curate at the Auckland Anglican mission. I’m not dressing up – what you see is
what you get. When I say a vote of faith; that is actually what I am talking about, my pledge to take my Christian
values into Parliament.
“I realise that we have a separation of church and state, but does that mean people with a religious background are not
allowed to stand for Parliament? That’s not separation, that’s segregation and who wants that?
“Anyway – to the person chopping down my Act of Faith hoardings– thank you for leaving my other ones alone and I really
do appreciate that you have been just knocking these ones down and not defacing them. My mates who are out in the rain
putting them up again might have some other ideas, but kei te pai, we’re used to that,” said Rev Paenga.
Ends