Maori Party Suggests Labour MPs Should Clean up their own backyard first

Tuesday 28 November 2006

Dr Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia, Co-leaders, Maori Party

Repeated Labour lines from Shane Jones about Maori Party alliances with this or that party, are becoming tired and boring, said Tariana Turia today, Co-leader of the Maori Party.

"It would appear that despite the fact Shane Jones is collecting two salaries, one as a Member of Parliament and one as a Government appointed member to the Fisheries Commission, he hasn't got enough to do" said Mrs Turia. "One would have had thought he had enough to occupy his mind rather than dreaming up Labour's spin lines about how to deal to the Maori Party".

"If I was Mr Jones, I'd be worried about cleaning up my own backyard first before I start throwing stones at anyone else" said Mrs Turia.

Revelations over the weekend, that former Labour finance minister Hon David Caygill was a strong supporter of Dr Don Brash have clearly indicated the Government's assumed stability is under threat. According to author Nicky Hager, David Caygill wrote a personal note to Dr Brash stating: "Don, I wish you all the very best. I am confident of your capacity to lead National and ultimately the country. And I have no doubt that the country needs the kind of clear, radical leadership that I am sure you are keen to bring".

"As if that's not enough, Hager also reveals that former Labour Minister, Hon Dr Michael Bassett was a key advisor to the National Party, including contributing to THAT Orewa speech, to another key welfare speech, writing him a campaign plan, and supporting National policy through his newspaper columns" said Mrs Turia. "We've always said that we will work with everybody and that's what we intend to do" said Mrs Turia. "I'm surprised that Mr Jones has such a fascination with our work, when one would think there is quite enough happening in their own camp to sort out". "We have many whakatauaki within te Ao Maori which talk about the importance of those in the back working alongside those in the front - to achieve harmony" stated Dr Pita Sharples, Co-leader of the Maori Party. 'Ka tika mai a muri, ka tika mai a mua' - with mua and muri working in a complementary fashion, unity can be achieved".

"Clearly, the Labour MPs will be looking pretty hard into their own backyard, to ask their own questions about why former senior members of Labour led Governments would now be supporting the National Party. As Shakespeare would say, there's something rotten in the state of Denmark!"

Hon David Caygill served as a Labour Member of Parliament for 18 years, including six years (1984-90) as a Minister of the Crown. From 1993-1996 David served as Deputy Leader of Labour.

The Hon Dr. Michael Bassett was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1972 - 1975 and 1978 - 1990. He was a Minister in the Fourth Labour Government from 1984 - 1990.

ENDS

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