DESTINY New Zealand

www.destinynz.org.nz

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14 September 2005

Labour Stoops to All-Time Low in Manukau

Labour list candidate and Manukau City Councillor, Su'a William Sio has released a statement equating Destiny New Zealand to former Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill on the basis of shared Christian values.

Destiny New Zealand leader Richard Lewis says the statement reflects gutter politics and the signs of a desperate man.

"There is nothing to be gained by using the crimes of Graham Capill to score political points against us. The victims and families will be working through that tragedy and I'm astonished a Manukau City Councillor would stoop so low for political gain," said Mr Lewis.

He adds that Labour has discarded the traditional family and religious values of Pacific people. This is clearly evident in the Civil Union (Same-sex marriage) and Prostitution Bills authored by Labour Ministers and supported by the vast majority of Labour's MPs.

"When you stand for Labour you stand for everything Labour believes in, even if it's contrary to your own culture's traditions and values. Unlike Mr Su'a, Destiny New Zealand's Pacific Island candidates will defend those traditions and values vigorously."

Mr Lewis is standing in the electorate of Manukau East and has been campaigning strongly on the heels of the Labour party incumbent. He says Destiny New Zealand's strong presence in Mr Sio's 'patch' of Otara and the Manukau area has probably made him feel insecure and threatened.

"This is just part of healthy politics and we expect flak," says Mr Lewis. "Today our team is sorting out 22 billboards which were damaged overnight in the Otara and Manukau area. We don't know who vandalised them but with all the dirty politics going on, nothing would surprise us," he added.

ENDS

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