23 June 2005

Mallard sacrifices Maori women to political expediency

Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard's cuts to targeted funding will leave Maori women living in violent relationships, says the Greens' Maori Affairs and Ethnic Affairs Spokesperson Metiria Turei.

Reacting to Don Brash and Winston Peters' claims on 'race-based' funding, the Government has today axed Maori and Pacific-focused programmes, community-based services to refugees and migrants, education grants, health sector support and corrections programmes targeted at reducing re-offending.

"This is what these cuts mean in practice - the holding back of funding to Te Tangata Mauri Ora Trust, which assists Maori women to leave violent relationships, will lead to more women and children being beaten and even killed," says Mrs Turei.

"Trevor Mallard is sacrificing Maori women and children to male violence. Instead of taking away from one group, he should be giving other and all women more support.

"Labour's review of targeted funding attacks the most vulnerable - Maori, women, young people, ethnic communities and Pacific peoples.

"This announcement today is a total abandonment of Maori and their rights as tangata whenua under Te Tiriti.

"But on top of that, Mr Mallard has turned on every sector of society except middle-aged white men like himself and Don Brash," says Mrs Turei.

ENDS

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