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Key condemns Harawira's comments

Prime Minister John Key has condemned comments by Maori Party MP Hone Harawira on New Zealand's colonial history, which he says are "divisive and negative".Mr Key was reacting today to a speech Mr Harawira gave last weekend at the Parihaka Inter

NZPA
Wed, 13 Jan 2010

Prime Minister John Key has condemned comments by Maori Party MP Hone Harawira on New Zealand's colonial history, which he says are "divisive and negative".

Mr Key was reacting today to a speech Mr Harawira gave last weekend at the Parihaka International Peace Festival, when he said the "rape of Maori lands" was continuing.

"Last year I made the statement that white so-and-sos have been raping our lands and ripping us off and everyone hated me. All I was doing was holding up a mirror to New Zealand," Mr Harawira said.

Mr Key condemned his comments at a media conference in Auckland.

"His comments are not helping the process, they are actually hindering the process," he told reporters.

"I would utterly reject the perspective that Hone Harawira has on New Zealand's history and the role of the settlers and others in New Zealand."

Mr Key said the Government had formed a relationship with the Maori Party because they thought it was important to maintain a "positive, inclusive and forward looking perspective" on race relations.

"It is my view that the comments from Hone Harawira, both in his most recent speech and his comments pre-Christmas, are both reflective and quite divisive and they are ultimately negative," Mr Key said.

Responding to a question about what advice he might have for Mr Harawira, Mr Key said:

"I think he should reflect on how we can best deliver a brighter future for all new Zealanders and I don't think that really comes in stirring up a one-sided perspective on New Zealand's history."

The pre-Christmas comments Mr Key referred to were Mr Harariwra's email in which he mentioned "white motherf...kers" who had raped Maori land. It caused outrage and Maori Party leaders asked him to consider leaving the party and becoming an independent MP. They later relented and sent him on leave from Parliament until it resumes next month.

NZPA
Wed, 13 Jan 2010
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Key condemns Harawira's comments
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