“The Associate Minister of Justice’s claim to have consulted opposition parties on significant government appointments is totally false,” said the Rt Hon Winston Peters, MP for Tauranga and Leader of New Zealand First.

“Margaret Wilson did write to New Zealand First on 28 March 2001 advising that “Cabinet has resolved to recommend the following appointments to the Administrator for the Government …”

“That letter is a statement of fact and no attempt whatsoever was made to ascertain the views of opposition parties.

“It has always been critical that sensitive appointments, such as the Human Rights Commissioner, follow consultation with non government parties and, particularly, more so now that New Zealand has an MMP system of government.

“I am enclosing a copy of Margaret Wilson’s letter of 28 March 2001 as clear evidence that her claim on Morning Report this morning to have consulted with opposition parties is a demonstrable fiction,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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