Media statement For immediate release Friday, 28 March 2008

Dunne laments PC loss of humour

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has expressed his disappointment that we appear to no longer be allowed to laugh at ourselves.

He says the "Whaka" advertising billboard, which was attacked by the Maori Language Commission and Maori Party, is another sad example of unnecessary outrage that does more harm than good for the country.

"The billboard was light-hearted and funny. Most New Zealanders would see this type of thing as a maturing of cultures - an example of mingling Maori and English to create a light hearted, uniquely New Zealand joke," says Mr Dunne.

The billboard has now been removed.

"It is no more disrespectful to Maori as it is to English - but some out there are overly sensitive and seem to spend their time sitting around waiting for something to take offence over.

"Only when we can laugh together will we be able to move on - Billy T James had the right idea, I'm sure he would have had a chuckle over the billboard pun - he made jokes like this all the time.

"In one example from his famous 'Te News' skit, he explained how "Kotanga is the Maori word for car aerial, and nobody took offence.

"This precious view expressed by the Maori Party and Maori Language Commission is in conflict with that of most Kiwis.

New Zealanders are well known for their ability to laugh at themselves and take a joke at face-value. It is a shame that the PC brigade seems to want to put an end to this," says Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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