Iwi Calls for MP to resign

“Clare Curran, MP for Dunedin must resign her position as an MP for she has no credibility and is not fit to represent this country” said Te Rangikaheke Bidois, Chairperson of Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi, the tribal authority of Ngati Rangiwewehi of Rotorua.

“We are in total disbelief and find it extremely distasteful that this MP chose to put a number of accusations about Paora Maxwell into the public arena under the veil of Parliamentary privilege while he was applying for the position of CEO of Maori Television. That Ms Curran chose to make these allegations about Paora before he even got the job seems to us like a deliberate attempt to discredit and disadvantage him in his application and that is just wrong. Worse still, the allegations are wrong. We’re really pleased that Paora has provided his rebuttal to the Speaker of Parliament regarding each claim made by Ms Curran” said Mrs Bidois.

We are very saddened that through the actions of this MP the mana of Paora and hard earned integrity has been discredited, along with his whanau and our iwi. Under those conditions we ask David Cunniliffe to stand her down.

“The mana of a people is hugely important. If she is so brave as to make statements about Paora under parliament’s protection, the least she can do is provide an apology and meet with us, his people, which we have asked her to do. That’s how we do things, face to face”, said Mrs Bidois, “and we expect her to respond to our call for these actions to take place”.

The Chair of the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Dr Toby Curtis, has been fully appraised of the situation and fully appreciates the stand made by Ngati Rangiwewehi.

ENDS

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