Brian Neeson
Opposition Police Spokesman
4 May 2000

Minister tells PM to butt out

Police Minister George Hawkins has taken a swipe at the Prime Minister over her comments on the Waitara Shooting, says Opposition Police Spokesman Brian Neeson.

"It is extraordinary that a Minister has to tell the Prime Minister to butt out. Her comments are completely inappropriate and unprecedented while the investigation is underway. Rather than shooting her mouth off she should wait for the outcome of the Police investigation.

"Ms Clark's latest comments that Police attitudes to Maori in Taranaki are poor and "undoubtedly had a bearing" on the shooting, are appalling. New Zealanders have a lot of respect for the Police and if she has evidence of these 'attitudes', it should be made public or taken without comment to the inquiry team, rather than her publicly undermining the Police force.

"The Prime Minister is completely out of step with her Minister on this one. While it's not the first time she has taken over the Police portfolio, she has gone too far this time. Her inability to keep her mouth shut and get the facts straight first shows contempt for her own Ministers and unsettles the public and people involved in this high profile case," Mr Neeson said.

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