MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday 11 April 2013

Dame Susan gets first “fail” as Race Relations Commissioner over “neo-Nazi” powhiri insult

Ngapuhi leader David Rankin has claims that the new Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, has fallen at the first hurdle by refusing to comment on the recent attacks on Maori welcomes by a visiting Danish politician.

“Several racist comments about powhiri, Maori culture, and our people, were made by the visiting Danish neo-Nazi politician, and instead of defending our culture and our race relations, Devoy was as quiet and as timid as a mouse,” says Mr. Ranki. “She clearly remains utterly clueless about our culture and the nature of racism that we, as Maori, face.”

Rankin argues that “we had blatantly racist comments being made about Maori, and Devoy kept quiet and collected her salary literally for doing nothing.”

Mr Rankin has suggested a “three strikes” policy should apply to Dame Susan. “She has had one fail,” he says. “Two more and she should be out.”

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