Race based funding review brown wash-ACT

Rodney Hide Thursday, 23 June 2005 Press Releases - Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

Labour’s review of race based funding is a huge defeat for Labour’s hard man Trevor Mallard, ACT leader Rodney Hide said today.

"As Labour’s Mr Fix-it, he was put in there to get tough and to get rid of race-based programmes. He has been forced into a humiliating back down on every single one of them.

“Instead we have got a document full of weasel words and politically correct speak, which confirms our worst suspicions that race-based programmes are endemic across all Government agencies.

“It’s an absolute disgrace, but no surprise that he embargoed it until 2.15pm to avoid a

debate on it in Parliament.

“Of the nearly 200 programmes it appears that not a single one has been cancelled. In some cases programme criteria has been tinkered with but in most cases cabinet simply notes that race-based programmes exist and will continue,” Mr Hide said.

Examples of Mallard’s humiliating back down include requiring Maori mental health nurses to have knowledge and understanding of Tikanga and commitment to working with Maori. This requirement replaces the need for Maori mental health nurses to be Maori.

“The result will be the same. The racist basis to hiring mental health nurses acknowledges the racist policies of Helen Clark’s Government.

“This is an acknowledgement of the racist approach this Labour Government has taken. Despite these findings we will not know if we can trust the government until we know of the fine print instructions to public servants.

“We predicted that funding based on need had become the unwritten code for politically directed race preference.

“Under Labour, policies are still race based. It is just that weasel words and claims of need are used to superficially disguise it. It’s time for a change. It’s time for one law for all New

Zealanders.

“It was National that introduced this racist nonsense. It is going to take ACT to get rid of it,” Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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