Statement Of The Maori Party: 27 October 2007

A statement, made in consensus, at the conclusion of the Hui-a-Tau / AGM of the Maori Party at Omahu Marae, Hastings.

In making this statement, the Maori Party recognizes the need to protect Aotearoa from the impact of global terrorism; and respects the just use of the rule of law;

The Maori Party states that:

- We condemn in the strongest possible terms, the recent actions of the Labour Minority Government against the Tuhoe Nation and the Ruatoki community in particular and against tangata whenua in general,

- We recognise the significant damage that has been done with respect to the wairua of our people as a result of these discriminatory actions;

- We say that such actions, as we have witnessed in recent days, have had adverse impacts on the state of race relations in Aotearoa;

- The Maori Party confirms the rights of tribal nations to be self-determining ¡V as set out in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - and encourage all of our whanau, hapu and iwi to make a statement of support for the Tuhoe nation, and a statement of condemnation about the actions of the Labour Minority Government against the Maori people in the last two weeks;

- We are appalled that innocent children, women and the elderly in their homes; and the Women's Refuge "Safe House" have borne the brunt of sweeping actions against communities and this must never happen again;

- We consider that the use of the Terrorism Suppression Act as the vehicle for justifying the attack against specific groups of New Zealanders has engendered a level of fear and anxiety amongst the general community;

- We reject the branding of tangata whenua as "terrorists"

- We call on the Labour Minority Government to suspend all broad-ranging actions against communities forthwith; and

- We call for the resignation of the Minister of Maori Affairs for abandoning his people at this time of great need.

ENDS