New Zealand First has dumped its Maori candidate for Te Tai Tokerau, replacing him with a man hand picked by Winston Peters, Mauri Pacific leader Tau Henare said today.

"New Zealand First has shown why Maori should never trust the party. If you are not a Winston puppet prepared to jump at his beck and call, then don't bother with the party. Its Winston First, pakeha second and Maori a token consideration."

Mr Henare said the dumped New Zealand First candidate, Anaru George, was a good, decent man, who did not deserve the party?s underhand tactics.

He said Anaru George was being unethically dumped to make way for Maori Trustee, Pita Paraone, a close friend of Winston Peters.

"Three months ago, Tutekawa Wyllie trumpeted the selection of Anaru George as based on tikanga. Has tikanga now determined that Anaru should be dumped?" Mr Henare asked.

"New Zealand First has alienated many Maori in Tai Tokerau, and in doing so, it has also revealed that it will continue to treat Maori as second class citizens," Tau Henare said.

ENDS

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