Mahesh Bindra MP
Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs
10 MARCH 2015

Mocking a Legitimate Concern on Flag Voting Information

The government’s cavalier disregard for New Zealand First’s concerns regarding a deliberate manipulation of voting information is appalling, says New Zealand First.

“For Deputy Prime Minister Bill English to declare in Parliament that it ‘doesn’t matter much’ that the voting information had been changed for Hindi speakers makes a mockery of the flag referendum,” says Ethnic Affairs Spokesperson Mahesh Bindra.

“Mr English said the Electoral Commission had investigated and decided the Hindi text reads as it should. However, Hindi speaking experts say otherwise.

“It appears that it was intentional to mislead the 80,000 or more people whose first language is Hindi, so that they vote for the ‘new’ flag - the Prime Minister’s choice of flag.

“The flag referendum has been a farce from the beginning,” says Mr Bindra.

“Mr English took no responsibility, ducking any accountability, referring New Zealand First to take the matter up with the Electoral Commission – we will do that. At the end of the day the referendum was the Prime Minister’s idea.”

ENDS

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