11 FEBRUARY 2016

Minister Throws Peters Off Bus

Northland MP Rt Hon Winston Peters has been barred from travelling on a school bus today in his electorate.

“It’s disgraceful interference in an MP’s work for his constituents,” says Mr Peters. “It is glaringly obvious that the National Government is obsessed with putting politics ahead of people.”

Mr Peters is scheduled to visit the Mangakahia Area School and was meeting parents at their request. They have been campaigning against the ill effects of voluminous amounts of dust from unsealed roads.

“While we understand that there are safety issues of just anyone travelling on a school bus, it was important to be on the bus with the kids to see how the dust affects them,” says Mr Peters, the New Zealand First Leader.

“The Ministry informed the organisers at the last minute so we have to question what interference there has been at high levels in the decision making.

“It appears that National will stop at nothing to thwart the Northland MP from doing his job and, at the same time, prevent Northlanders from raising serious issues and demonstrating the problems.

“In this case the government has neglected to take these families seriously. Past electorate MPs, who were part of the government, should have solved the problem a long time ago.

“During the by-election National Whangarei MP Shane Reti tried to keep the Pipiwai Titoki Advocacy Group quiet.

“Dr Reti claimed he had taken the dusty roads problem to the Cabinet, but if the group continued to take action they would have to see what the consequences would be.

“It seems nothing has changed.

“Minister of Education Hekia Parata must provide answers as to today’s appalling and disgraceful decision making.”

ENDS

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