Maori Leader’s example dooms Maori kids.

Labour’s Tai Tokerau Candidate Kelvin Davis says Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira calling a tagger-busting judge “a dickhead” should be seen for the publicity stunt it is.

“It’s Hone’s way of getting attention. After twenty years as a school teacher, I can spot attention seeking behaviour from a mile away.” Davis says.

“It will do nothing to help the tagging situation. After going walkabout to apologise to the judge he offended, he should find his way back up to Kaitaia to help develop tangible solutions to the tagging he described at his own community’s skateboard bowl.”

“He spoke about a programme in Nelson that’s effective at reducing tagging. Why hasn’t he done anything to bring the programme in to his own backyard?”

“It’s little wonder youth today have no respect for authority when people in positions of responsibility use gutter language to express themselves in public. What a great example for Maori youth.”

“If Hone’s behaviour is an example of how a Maori leader should act, then Maori youth are doomed.”

“His behaviour and comments will only serve to escalate the problem of tagging further by giving the taggers the notoriety they crave. Soon it will become a badge of honour to be given a jail term for tagging.

His comments highlight how out of touch the Maori Party is with the mood of the nation towards taggers.”

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