Manukau City Council supports racist Committee

Another step towards an apartheid city is how the Manukau City Council's decision to introduce a new race based standing committee is being described by Cr Dick Quax.

Council last evening voted for a Maori Standing Committee which will have the same powers and delegated authority as any other Council Committee.

"The objection that I have and some of my Council colleagues have is that this Committee will not be elected members but will be appointed by Trust Boards and Marae Committees."

"This does nothing to advance Maori interests in our City. All decision made by this Committee will be filtered through the Maori collective leaving the needs of individual Maori out in the cold."

"The Manukau City Council has an exemplary record of diverse representation. The fact that the Deputy Mayor is Maori seems to have been overlooked by those who argued that our Council is not giving a voice to all Manukau citizens."

"If Maori want a voice on Council they should do what every other person running for office does; build up a constituency, work hard and get elected."

"Twenty five years ago when I was an international athlete I refused to go the South Africa and to run against South Africa athletes because of that country's policy of racial separatism. It now appears that the separatists have taken over the Manukau City Council."

ENDS

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