Party With 'Repugnant Views' Now Big Hit with ACT

Monday, 27 March 2006, 11:55 am
Article: Kevin List

Co-leader of 'Separatist Party' With 'Repugnant Views' Big Hit At ACT Conference

According to Rodney Hide's weblog "Tariana [Turia] was a big hit at the conference." In an unexpected move Maori Party Co-leader Tariana Turia was the surprise guest at ACT's Party conference held in Wellington over the weekend. Ms Turia's appearance at ACT's conference would have startled anyone that attended a speech ACT Leader Rodney Hide gave in Wellington just prior to the election. In his speech Mr Hide likened the Maori Party to the far right National Front Party:

"The policies of the National Front parallel those of the Maori Party.

It should be no surprise that the National Front has hailed Tariana Turia.

National Front national secretary Kerry Bolton declared that, “we are a party that stands up for European culture and identity and to be perfectly consistent we should be able to understand a party that stands up for Maori identity and culture"

I find the National Front’s racial claims totally repugnant. To be consistent, I find the Maori Party claims equally repugnant," explained Mr Hide to a group of Wellington rotarians.

Mr Hide ended his speech by pointing out that a Helen Clark Government propped up by the Greens and the Maori Party was his 'worst nightmare'.

Six months on from the election Mr Hide has taken a rather different view pointing out that it is important to " reach out to other parties: the Maori Party’s views on Welfare, Education and Health are very similar to ACT’s. The Maori Party is also a radical party like ACT—we’re both fed up with what government does to 'our' people."

It is not known whether Mr Hide's newfound enthusiasm is shared by ACT's new vice president Trevor Loudon who left this post on Mr Hide's weblog last year in relation to a comparison Mr Hide had again drawn between the Maori Party and the National Front.

I think Kyle [Chapman – the former leader of the National Front] would love to join with the Maori Party in one big fascist family.

ENDS

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