The New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, has expressed shock, horror and dismay that Richard Prebble has described himself as a white liberal committed to creating a successful multi-racial society.

“Don’t believe me – ask Dover Samuels!

“Richard calling himself a liberal is like Jenny Shipley describing herself as a international statesperson – a big joke!

“The ACT leader did more to harm New Zealand’s race relations than any other Labour cabinet minister in the disastrous 1984-90 government.

“He created the present Treaty grievance industry almost single handedly in those years and he is now suffering from some form of denial, pretending that it was someone else.

“The truth of the matter is that ACT knows nothing about race relations except to jump on the band-wagon of discontent caused by this present Government’s well intentioned, but foolish “Closing the Gaps” programme.

“Mr Prebble, using my name in his speeches as some kind of prop to support his Damascus like conversion, puts me in mind of Winston Churchill’s famous quote: ‘The trouble with being on the side of right is that you keep so much dubious company,” said Mr Peters.

Ends

© Scoop Media