Thursday 4th May 2000
Ken Shirley
Media Release -- Justice

Comments made today by the Prime Minister that police attitudes to Maori in Taranaki were poor and “undoubtedly had a bearing on the shooting” are unsubstantiated and inappropriate, according to ACT Police Spokesman Hon Ken Shirley.

Mr Shirley tonight said that tensions are already high in Waitara and such comments were very unhelpful.

“As Prime Minister, Helen Clark should be facilitating the healing process rather than further polarising the local community and New Zealand at large,” said Mr Shirley.

“It is totally inappropriate for the Prime Minister to use this issue to score political points with the Labour/Alliance Maori constituency while the two police inquiries are still under way. The Prime Minister should be following the lead of the Police Minister and waiting for the two inquiries to finish,” said Ken Shirley.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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