Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland

30 AUGUST 2016

RACE-BASED POLITICS ONLY HINDER NZ’S PROGRESS

New Zealand cannot afford to get caught up in race-based politics, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters commenting on the establishment of an Indian-led party.

“No country is going to progress if we have political parties spending time accentuating their differences.

“For people to come into New Zealand and say we’re going to start an ethnic-based party is an extraordinary demand to make.

“New Zealanders would not consider making such a demand in any country in Asia and it should not be made here.

“The acting leader of the New Zealand People’s Party says it is about time Indians and Asians were represented, but both ethnicities are already well represented in our Parliament.

“New Zealand First believes in one law for all, regardless of ethnic background.

“That is why we oppose the trend supported by National and other parties to create a ‘parallel state’ for Māori through programmes such as Whānau Ora,” Mr Peters says.

ENDS

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