Media Release

6 June 2002

New Zealand Is Broken: Peters

“Calls for local council boundaries to be redrawn along Maori tribal lines is further evidence that New Zealand is ‘broken’, New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters said.

“The Government is taking us on a backward path to disharmony and third world regression. It is a journey not taken with any sense of nostalgia but driven by misguided politically correct policy settings. Apologies to the Chinese, the Samoans, and to the Gays have now been joined by a call to draw up regional boundaries based on early nineteenth century Maori structures. This makes absolutely no sense and ignores the fact that New Zealand is a very different place two hundred years on.

“What New Zealanders want and need is a Government with a vision for the future not a preoccupation with our past. New Zealand IS broken. Can we fix it? Clearly we can: what we need to do is put an end to all this politically correct claptrap and focus on the basics, Mr. Peters said.

“There should be a focus on policies that promote social cohesion and put an end to the Treaty of Waitangi grievance industry and cease platitudinous statements about the Treaty being inserted in our legislation. We should not be looking to impose redundant structures on our long–suffering communities,” Mr. Peters said.

ENDS

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