Hon Richard Prebble CBE
Leader ACT New Zealand
Parliament Buildings

14 September 1999

Rt Hon Wyatt Creech
Minister of Health
Parliament Buildings

Dear Minister

Do we have a state religion now?

I am writing regarding a story in today's Dominion which I hope isn't correct.

It states that a woman working at a mental health unit in Wanganui has been banned from entering the premises until it can receive a Maori blessing.

Did employees of your department ban a woman from carrying our her lawful employment because of someone else's religious beliefs?

Since when have we had a state religion in New Zealand? Why haven't the employees been suspended? In New Zealand religious persecution has always been illegal.

I want to know what action the Government has taken. Have the employees who discriminated against this woman been suspended? If not, why not?

Does the Government agree with this? If so, why? If not, what has the Government done?

Have you as the Minister made a statement condemning this, and if not, why not?

If you've taken no action, then we take that we now do have a state religion.

Yours faithfully

Hon Richard Prebble CBE
LEADER, ACT NEW ZEALAND
MP, WELLINGTON CENTRAL

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