EMBARGOED UNTIL 11:30 AM, TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 1999

MAURI PACIFIC CANDIDATE RESIGNS TO JOIN UNITED

Mauri Pacific list candidate, Dr Eric Chuah, today resigned from the Mauri Pacific Party to join United New Zealand, citing Mauri Pacific’s lack of commitment to Asian voters.

Dr Chuah, a prominent Chinese community leader, had been ranked at number 10 on the Mauri Pacific list and was previously a founding member of the Ethnic Minority Party, which merged with United in 1997.

“Mauri Pacific was set up to represent all the different ethnic groups in New Zealand, but in reality it is just a Maori Party.”

“It has no interest in any of the other ethnic minorities, and no desire to take the interests of the growing Asian community seriously.”

“United New Zealand is the only Party showing any genuine commitment to multicultural New Zealand, and I have therefore decided to join United and to give it my full support in the lead-up to the election and beyond.”

“A small party like United offers a far better opportunity to ensure the views and concerns of ethnic communities are listened to and acted upon, than a large party where these views and interests are easily ignored.”

“I want to help United get its Party vote up to at least 2% or 3% so that it gets at least 4 MPs in the next Parliament, given that Peter Dunne will win Ohariu Belmont,” Dr Chuah says.

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, who was in Hamilton today with Dr Chuah for his announcement, has welcomed his support.

“Dr Chuah’s decision is great news, and further evidence that ethnic communities now see United as the best Party to represent them in Parliament.”

“Dr Chuah will be playing an important role within United in both the lead-up to the election, and during the next three years.”

“He will be our major adviser on all policy and other matters relating to the Chinese community, and he will also become the Party’s regional spokesperson for the Waikato region,” he says.

Both Mr Dunne and Dr Chuah say that the coming election provides a unique opportunity for New Zealand’s new communities to decide the outcome.

“By voting strongly for United New Zealand, ethnic communities can ensure it, not New Zealand First, will hold the balance in the new Parliament, and that it will influence the next Government to introduce comprehensive population and immigration policies, including effective resettlement and language training programmes, and a Ministry of Ethnic Affairs,” they say.

ENDS.

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

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