No Maoris Please – We ’Re Nats!
Media Release
3 February 2004
No Maoris Please – We ’Re Nats!
Rt Hon Winston Peters has described the sacking of Georgina te Heuheu as a return to the politics of 1949 when Maori were not selected for the All Blacks for political reasons.
“Sacking Mrs te Heuheu and putting ‘Hone’ Brownlee in as Maori Affairs spokesperson reminds me of the Australian government sending a white person to represent aboriginals at a world ethnic affairs conference over 25 years ago.
“You also have to feel sympathy for a person, known to be a moderate – and from an esteemed Maori family - who was head hunted by National in the first place.
“Tanara or Don as he is known to his friends will have plenty of time to reflect on his decision to dump the most qualified person in his caucus to represent Maori.
“It will also be interesting to watch the performance of
Hone Brownlee on marae around the country,” said Mr
Peters.
ENDS