10 April 2005 Media Statement

Statement by Helen Clark on John Tamihere

Mr John Tamihere has been under considerable stress. By agreement with the leadership of the Labour Party he is now taking extended leave. He will not be attending caucus this Tuesday.

He has made statements to a journalist which are deeply offensive to New Zealanders. The statements are also offensive and utterly unacceptable to the New Zealand Labour Party.

With respect to the Holocaust, the Labour Party believes it to have been genocide and as such one of the most repugnant and ferocious events of human history.

The pain caused to the Jewish community and to others who suffered in the Holocaust by these thoughtless comments is acknowledged and deeply regretted by the Labour Party.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Audrey Young in the NZ Herald has compiled a useful list of the many ways Christopher Luxon plans to roll back the progress made in race relations over the past forty years. He has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. More