Media Release
03 October 2003

Fund Education Not Sex

New Zealand First is questioning the Government’s priorities which leave Maori at the bottom of the heap in terms of education and standard of living while the prostitutes collective receives state funding of $1.8 million a year.

“Maori health status is well below that of non-Maori, Maori unemployment is triple that of non-Maori and Maori are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system,” said New Zealand First Maori Affairs spokesperson, Bill Gudgeon.

“Some Maori children in the far north are being kept away from school, and thus denying them the skills they need for future success. This is where resources should be applied, not in funding prostitutes.

“Education is the key to upward mobility. Without it our citizens are condemned to a narrow range of options and certain failure to reach their potential.

“With the decriminalisation of prostitution the industry will, in all likelihood, expand and it is likely that many under-educated, under-skilled and under-privileged young Maori will seek salvation in the sex trade.

“The Government should resource the education of our children rather than support the sex industry,” said Mr Gugeon.

ENDS

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