Arthur Anae National Pacific Island Affairs Spokesperson

3 August 2000

Trevor Mallard redefines "overstayers"

"Labour's Trevor Mallard has changed the dictionary definition of the word 'overstayer'," National's Arthur Anae said today.

"Letters he sent to Pacific Island families in his Hutt South electorate contain thinly veiled threats of deportation. Many of the families who received those letters already have citizenship.

"Mr Mallard is assuming that all overstayers are Pacific Islanders, and all Pacific Islanders are overstayers.

"In Trevor's dictionary an 'overstayer' is defined as any brown skinned Pacific Islander.

"That is an obnoxious attitude. It is based on prejudiced stereotypes which are obviously very real to Mr Mallard.

"The letters were not sent to people with European sounding surnames, presumably because Trevor thinks overstayers from European backgrounds are welcome to stay as long as they want," Arthur Anae said.

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