Media statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Dunne calls for vision, constitutional debate

UnitedFuture leader, Peter Dunne, today called for the government and the country to have the courage to face up to New Zealand’s future constitutional arrangements.

Speaking in the Parliamentary debate following the Prime Minister’s statement to the House, Mr Dunne said he was frustrated by constantly hearing people saying such a debate was very import, “but not now”.

He told Parliament that such a debate would get New Zealanders talking about themselves, their country and the sort of future they want to see for themselves and their children.

He criticised the National and Labour leaders for focussing on promoting narrow sectional interests and not taking a broader look at what New Zealand could be.

“We are a small, moderately-resourced nation at the end of the trade routes and we simply have to be smarter,” he said.

Mr Dunne also said that if we want to make fundamental sustainable changes to New Zealand society, then focussing on promoting better parenting would be an excellent way to go.

ENDS

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