Star Times Stands By Tamihere Foreshore Story

Sunday Star –Times Stands By Tamihere Foreshore Story

The Sunday Star-Times and political editor Helen Bain stand by their front-page story of October 17 headed “MP snubs foreshore legislation.”

John Tamihere explicitly stated that he did not support the foreshore and seabed legislation in its current format, as stated in the Star-Times report, and supported by Bain’s verbatim notes.

Tamihere’s comment, as quoted, was made at the Beehive on Tuesday October 12th and was witnessed by other politicians. The comment was made in the context of a wider discussion on the legislation which made it clear he was talking about removal of his support for the bill, not a matter of “wrinkles” to be worked through in the legislation, as he has subsequently claimed.

The matter was again put to Tamihere on Saturday October 18 when he confirmed that his position still stood.

When challenged by the Star-Times about his subsequent denial, Tamihere said the statement retracting his comments was issued by Prime Minister Helen Clark’s chief press secretary Mike Munro, not him, and refused to discuss the matter further.

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