ACT Happy To Say It Kanohi ki Kanohi

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today said he would like to take up the challenge from Waitangi lower Marae spokesmen to deliver the message of Dr Brash's Orewa Rotary speech face to face.

"I'm perfectly willing to speak at Te Tii marae for ordinary New Zealanders - both Maori and pakeha. There is no long-term future for a country built on deliberate race discrimination," Mr Franks said.

"I'll repeat what I've been saying for ACT since I came to Parliament in 1999, and what I've argued in legal circles since Labour, and the courts, started fabricating fake principles and a spurious partnership out of the straight forward and inspired words of the Treaty of Waitangi.

"If invited, I'll try and get there as soon as possible.

"I respect the right of the Marae hosts to choose the media they invite onto the Marae - that is their right under Article Two of the Treaty. However, I think it's unwise and offensive for them to limit it in the circumstances, but that is their privilege.

"I agree with Maori who believe these matters should be debated directly - without the inevitable distortion of reporting. I hope to have that opportunity at Waitangi and elsewhere," Mr Franks said.

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