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Middle-Class New Zealand yet to get the Message
Middle-Class New Zealand yet to get the Message
“Middle class New Zealand just doesn’t get the message,” says Labour’s Te Tai Tokerau Candidate Kelvin Davis, in response to Rodney Hide’s attack on the Maori Electorate seats.
“As Treaty Partners, the Maori seats are the least we expect in terms of representative equality in parliament.”
“It is not a co-incidence that educational, health and social outcomes for Maori have improved as more Maori MPs enter parliament. The Maori seats are our one guarantee of representation, and greater representation in the house is behind better outcomes for us as a people. The whole country benefits when Maori outcomes improve.”
“Middle-class opposition to our Maori seats serves to strengthen our resolve that the seats should remain.”
“Rodney Hide is saying that it’s not right for Maori to have such influence, but it’s okay for a middle-class predominantly pakeha party such as ACT to be kingmakers.
Maori find that offensive.
He needs to get out of Epsom and up into the Tai Tokerau to see that we Maori actually contribute a heck of a lot to New Zealand.
Our parliament and country is a richer place because of the guaranteed Maori representation.”
ENDS
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