29 August 2002

Davy Saga A Spur For Minister To Lift Performance

"The departure of John Davy, convicted fraudster and former boss of Maori television, from New Zealand's shores should be the spur for the Minister of Maori Affairs to get his act together," Georgina te Heuheu, Opposition Spokesperson for Maori Affairs said today.

"The Minister must accept responsibility for the whole sorry saga and show that he learned something from it by lifting his performance this Parliamentary term.

"The Ministry of Maori Development was knee deep in the Davy debacle and ultimately the Minister is responsible. The Davy affair showed a level of incompetence that is not acceptable in Government.

"If the Minister continues to demonstrate the same level of incompetence in this term as he did over the Davy saga we are in big trouble", Mrs te Heuheu said.

"The Speech from the Throne said nothing about how the Government would deal with the big issues facing Maori. The Minister should urgently turn his mind to settling Treaty injustices and lifting Maori participation through better education, housing and health.

"The Minister will need to show he is up to the job in addressing these issues, otherwise he should be moved in the next Cabinet reshuffle," Mrs te Heuheu concluded.

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