Maori Wards For Councils Backed

The Green Party says Labour will support its member’s bill to create Maori wards in local government, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Given that the National Party supported non-elected Maori representation on the Auckland Super City, and ACT’s Rodney Hide, as minister, pushed it through, National will also support the Local Electoral (Equitable Process for Establishing Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill that will soon be before Parliament.

“This is yet another case of the elite in Wellington telling ratepayers to butt out because they have a better idea on representation.

“It demonstrates how arrogant those who are temporarily empowered have become.

“New Zealand First will oppose race-based politics at central and local government level and stand for equal representation for all, regardless of wealth, race or gender,” says Mr Peters.

Race-Based Prison Goes Against Justification For Ngawha Being Built

Labour’s plan to turn Ngawha prison in Northland into an all-Maori jail goes against the justification for the prison being built in the first place and, further, race-based policies don’t work, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“When it was proposed to build Ngawha prison the rationale justifying it was that prisoners of the North would be closer to families and that proximity to the families was important for their rehabilitation.

“Family and friends would not face the inconvenience and expense of having to travel to prisons in Auckland for visits.
“If Ngawha, built in 2005 by Labour, is to be Maori only, the justification for building Ngawha is being overlooked, and non-Maori and their families will have to travel to Auckland.
“Kelvin has a credible record on penal policy but he needs to think this through more carefully because what he implied is that a prison for non-Maori will have to be built up North.
“What’s next? All Maori criminal courts? An all-Maori police force?
“If we are to have all-Maori prisons, are we now going to build jails for non-Maori also?” says Mr Peters.