‘Important Day for Maori’ says Turia

Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party

Wednesday 2 May 2007

"The Maori Party wants to acknowledge the courage of the Minister of Maori Affairs and his Maori colleagues who fronted up to the March on behalf of the Government” said Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party, speaking after today's rally on Parliament, opposing the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act.

“This issue has gained considerable momentum in the last six months and no doubt they would have been recipients of similar emails to that which we received in the Maori Party” said Mrs Turia.

“The important message for tangata whenua regarding this issue is that while many of our people may not have agreed with the stance taken by most of the Maori MPs, it has been heartening to see the leadership on this issue come from Maori across the House” said Mrs Turia.

“We have been calling for cross-party action on the elimination of violence; and today we have seen it demonstrated” said Mrs Turia.

We look forward to an education programme over and above what the Government provides today, to ensure that families are able to be transformed into sites of safety for children” ended Mrs Turia.

ENDS

© Scoop Media