5 November 2000

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has spoken to Alliance Minister Sandra Lee over the use of the word 'holocaust' in a speech.

"Sandra Lee agrees that the use of the word in the context of her discussion of the devastating depopulation of Maori in the last century is inappropriate," Jim Anderton said.

"I have asked her not to use the word in future."

Sandra Lee will not be making any further comment on this issue.

Jim Anderton said the Government is committed to resolving important issues of Maori social and economic development and Sandra Lee is totally committed to those programmes.

Responding to a statement from the Leader of the Opposition, Jim Anderton said Mrs Shipley had no credibility in talking about deteriorating race relations.

"The most offensive racist statement made by anyone this year was Mrs Shipley's statement in parliament that Maori and Pacific Islanders climb through other people's windows at night. Mrs Shipley is skating on thin ice if she thinks she has any credibility in attacking others over race relations after making an offensive remark like that."

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