Unanimous Maori Endorsement Of Matt Mccarten For Mayor

Press release from the Alliance party

Unanimous Maori endorsement of Matt McCarten for Mayor

Immediate Release

24 September 2001

Mana Motuhake Leader and Alliance MP Willie Jackson and Labour MP John Tamihere hosted a Maori endorsement meeting this morning for Matt McCarten, mayoral candidate for Auckland, at Te Puni Korkiri in Auckland.

"I am proud that Matt McCarten received unanimous endorsement from the broad range of Maori leaders attending Matt McCarten's meeting with Maori this morning.

"Matt McCarten is the only choice for Maori voters in the Auckland Mayoral race. He is the only choice for people who believe in public ownership of our resources, and public ownership is very much in the interests of Maori.

"Dr Ranginui Walker gave a rousing speech saying it was a great and significant move the Matt McCarten was standing and Maori must now go back to their whanau and friends and insist that they support Matt.

"Professor Graham Smith; Auckland University Vice Chancellor made the point that it was good that John Tamihere and myself were working together across party lines to support Matt McCarten.

"Naida Pou-Glavish, Fisheries Commissioner and former Auckland Maori Council Chair, said she was proud to know someone from her tribe (Nga Puhi) was standing. Maori need to get right behind him.

"John Tamihere spoke of Matt McCarten being a role model for young Maori and setting the benchmark of what you can do even with tough upbringing.

"Other well known Maori endorsing Matt McCarten were Doc Wikirifi, Kaumatua for Ngati Whatua; Mike King; June Jackson, Chief Executive of Manukau Urban Maori Authority and Reg Ratahi, Chair of the Waipareira Trust.

"Matt McCarten said he was humbled by the unanimous support and that while he was not brought up Maori, he always has been very much Maori at heart," said Willie Jackson MP.

Over 50 key people in Maoridom attended the meeting.

ENDS

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