Maori issues ‘political fodder’
PA Auckland The New Zealand Party is using Maori issues as political fodder, says the leader of the Mana Motuhake movement, Mr Matiu Rata. He challenged the party to debate two proposals, passed at its conference in Wellington, to abolish the four Maori Parliamentary seats and to phase out the Maori Affairs Department in favour of cultural programmes.
“Our concern is that the New Zealand Party would appear to be making use of Maori issues and using them as political fodder to attract
non-Maori support,” said Mr Rata. “We are not opposed to proper, open debate but we are opposed to being used as political fodder.” Mr Rata said Mana Motuhake challenged the New Zealand Party to contest the four Maori seats. “We want to challenge the New Zealand Party, and in particular Mr Jones, who seems to know what is best for the Maori people.” Mr Rata said the Maori seats should remain until the Maori people had had “an opportunity to study the situation.”
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Press, 6 March 1984, Page 15
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170Maori issues ‘political fodder’ Press, 6 March 1984, Page 15
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