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Bad start to 2012

Nanaia
MAHUTA
Education Spokesperson
Associate Māori Affairs (Social) Spokesperson

2 February 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
Bad start to 2012

Prime Minister John Key has had a bad start to the year, says Labour’s Education and Associate Maori Affairs (Social) spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta.

“Three events just this week have highlighted that the grand National-Māori Party- Act coalition is on shaky ground --- and Parliament hasn't even started the year,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

“The PM has been floundering around looking for an ‘elegant solution’ to the Government’s proposal to remove the treaty clause from SOE legislation. It appears the lack of consultation with the Maori Party on this matter threatens its coalition deal and destabilises any genuine external consultation on the issue," Nanaia Mahuta said

“Yesterday John Key was embarrassed again, this time on the ACT front, with Associate Education Minister John Banks announcing that former ACT leader Catherine Isaac will head the committee setting up charter schools,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

“Mr Banks’ announcement was premature. Ms Isaacs has not been appointed This is a classic case of the 'tail wagging the head' and John Key had no option but to slap down the ACT leader in a humiliating way,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

“And now today, to cap things off, it has been revealed that Treasury has been forced to take down a draft consultation document from its website, after the document embarrassingly made it clear that National had had no intention of including any Treaty clause in its revised SOE legislation until the Māori Party got up in arms.

“It’s only the start of February. John Key’s coalition is looking fragile and in disarray. It doesn't bode well for 2012 as the Government appears to bully its way forward," Nanaia Mahuta said.

ENDS

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