Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 15, 2016 16:34:39 GMT 12
PM defends 'racist' TVNZ survey
Prime Minister John Key says he does not have a problem with a question in a TVNZ survey which has been labelled racist by Maori MPs.
Mr Key says the question is a legitimate one to ask.
"I mean we're partners together.
"The point of which we signed the treaty - it was the foundation stone of modern New Zealand, but it was the foundation stone of where we were equal and treated equally, and I think my own view is that the government should fund on the basis of need not on the basis of race."
Labour leader Andrew Little said the question did not need to be included in the survey, as it presupposed something that smacked of prejudice.
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said the question was designed to incite racial intolerance and he wanted it withdrawn.
"I was left thinking, what's special about having our land stolen from us, higher Māori incarceration rate, worst health outcomes, lower educational outcomes - just what exactly is the special treatment we're getting?"
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei disagreed and said the questions were a disgraceful approach to serious issues facing Māori in Aotearoa.
"What exactly are they asking people about? Are they asking people about having Treaty rights recognised and reparation for land stolen by the Crown, are they talking about the special treatment of not getting access to housing or our parents being kicked out of bars for being Māori?
The Human Rights Commission was also looking into the issue, and said the question about Māori receiving special treatment assumed that was the case…..
www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/298945/pm-defends-'racist'-tvnz-survey
Prime Minister John Key says he does not have a problem with a question in a TVNZ survey which has been labelled racist by Maori MPs.
Mr Key says the question is a legitimate one to ask.
"I mean we're partners together.
"The point of which we signed the treaty - it was the foundation stone of modern New Zealand, but it was the foundation stone of where we were equal and treated equally, and I think my own view is that the government should fund on the basis of need not on the basis of race."
Labour leader Andrew Little said the question did not need to be included in the survey, as it presupposed something that smacked of prejudice.
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said the question was designed to incite racial intolerance and he wanted it withdrawn.
"I was left thinking, what's special about having our land stolen from us, higher Māori incarceration rate, worst health outcomes, lower educational outcomes - just what exactly is the special treatment we're getting?"
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei disagreed and said the questions were a disgraceful approach to serious issues facing Māori in Aotearoa.
"What exactly are they asking people about? Are they asking people about having Treaty rights recognised and reparation for land stolen by the Crown, are they talking about the special treatment of not getting access to housing or our parents being kicked out of bars for being Māori?
The Human Rights Commission was also looking into the issue, and said the question about Māori receiving special treatment assumed that was the case…..
www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/298945/pm-defends-'racist'-tvnz-survey