“The Tyranny of the Majority”

The Destiny New Zealand candidate for Waiariki, Hawea Vercoe of Rotorua has expressed his amazement and deep disappointment at the statements that are coming from extremist right wing parties who are attacking Maori seats in order to win support from their equally misguided supporters.

“I am not a separatist – I am a preservationist. I believe that Maori representation is definitely a point of difference for Aotearoa-New Zealand – as Maori are the indigenous people of this land – and there is a “need” to protect this right. It’s not about race – it’s about need. As a Maori – I need to be able to vote and stand as a Maori!” Mr Vercoe explains.

“Why do they need to attack Maori people like that” Mr Vercoe asks, “What have we done to those people to make them attack us? Why are Maori continually used as a “political football” to be kicked around in order to score cheap political points?” We do not complain about their Pakeha seats, what would be the point in doing that?” he asks.

“Some Maori people have opted to be on the Pakeha roll and that is fine, that is their choice” he noted, “But for myself and many others, we prefer to exercise our right to vote as Maori, for we feel comfortable as Maori to do that, and that is our right under the laws of New Zealand since the inception of Maori seats” he adds.

“Taking away Maori seats would be taking away my right to participate in our democracy as a Maori and in effect bulldozing the last bastion of representation of the indigenous people of this nation. I’m sure the UN would have something to say about that” he asserts.

The suggestion of a referendum on the issue is again unjust because we live in a democracy and Maori are a minority, population wise.

“Maori will fall victim of the Tyranny of the majority – where the rights of the minority are crushed by the will of the majority” he explains.

“So why don’t all you protesters about Maori seats ask yourself this simple question – Are Maori seats hurting me in any way? If they are not then they should for ever hold their peace and get on with life” Mr Vercoe concludes.

Destiny New Zealand candidates and policies can be viewed on www.destinynz.org.nz

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