Who is Jacinda Ardern MP and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party?

MEDIA RELEASE APRIL 28, 2017

Right to Life is disappointed that Jacinda Ardern has recently refused to respond to our letter asking her views on important justice and human rights issues that face our nation.

As the newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party she is potentially a future Deputy Prime Minister. Her dismissive response raises serious questions of trust and undermines our Parliamentary democracy. Good government is government by the people for the people.

Ms Ardern should remember that those who govern do so with the permission of the governed. Right to Life believes that the electorate has an absolute right to ask her and individual Members of Parliament and candidates who are standing for election to our Parliament questions on important social and justice issues.

Those who are standing for election to Parliament have a serious duty to provide a response to questions of importance to the community. A similar letter was also sent to the Hon Paula Bennett, Deputy Prime Minister. We await her response.

Ms Ardern’s action is contrary to the Labour Party’s Policy Platform policy 1,18 that upholds Labour’s pledge to be open and transparent in government. Right to Life asks how is Ms Ardern being open and transparent by refusing to answer our questions seeking her views on important social and justice issues? Of particular concern is her refusal to uphold the natural family, exclusively of one man and one women, as the foundation of a stable society.

Why is Ms Ardern who is Labour spokesperson for justice and children refusing to answer questions that relate to justice and children?

Here are the questions that we asked.

On behalf of our members I would be grateful if you would kindly provide me with your response to the following important questions:-

• We are concerned that our current birth rate is 1.9 and below replacement level. Do you believe that the natural family of exclusively one woman and one man, the pro-creators of the next generation, is the foundation of a healthy and continuing society and deserves the protection and encouragement of the state?

• Do you believe that the law should recognise the unborn child as a human being endowed with a right to life?

• Do you oppose the decriminalisation of abortion in New Zealand?

• Do you oppose the law being changed to allow doctors to terminate the life, or assist in the suicide of a patient?

• Do you support the Inside Out school sexuality programme that promotes the gender identity programme?

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life.

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