Press Release

Iwi stands by its call for MP Claire Curran to resign

“ Claire Curran said things that were untrue and trampled on the mana of one of our relations and thus she trampled on the mana of his iwi, worse still she said some un-truths under the privilege of Parliament and potentially prejudiced Paora Maxwell’s chances with the Māori Television CEO position” said Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi Chairperson, Te Rangikaheke Bidois. “ We have written to Clare Curran and asked her to meet but as yet we have not received a reply.”

In response to Shane Jone’s comments on Te Karere on Monday night Ms Bidois said “It is completely inappropriate for Shane Jones to be censoring Ngati Rangiwewehi regarding our response to Clare Curren’s comments in the House, he should instead be keeping an eye on his colleague, what Claire Curran says in the house and her gross abuse of Parliamentary privilege. “ Ms Bidois went on to say that “ it’s a bit rich for Shane Jones to be offering proverbs to us around getting one’s nose punched, we would suggest to him that he himself should instead keep his nose clean by not putting it into “paru” places in the past and into the future.”

Ms Bidois was referring to Mr Jone’s historic episode in which he was reported to have used his Parliamentary credit card to pay for a pornography video.

“Shane Jones seemed to be purporting to have met with the Iwi authority when in fact it is understood he may have met two members of Ngati Rangiwewehi privately. Let me be very clear about this, the Iwi discussed this issue at our AGM last month, and Hui a Marama this month, and I am representing the unanimous voice of those hui.” said Te Rangikaheke Bidois, the Chairperson of Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi. “ His ( Mr Jone’s) comments stating that Ngati Rangiwewehi should stick to kapahaka and leave political matters alone are offensive and demonstrate an arrogance that will not serve Shane Jones well in the future” said Ms Bidois. “We have every right to make some comment in defense of our whanaunga, we are not interfering in any process but making comment on what we believe to be the wrongful use of Parliamentary privilege.”

With regards the political process Ms Bidois said “We understand that there is a Parliamentary process underway that Paora is engaged with in him supplementing the parliamentary record, we are not trying to undermine that process but we defend our right to comment on what Parliamentarians say about our iwi and it’s members.”

It is understood that Mr Maxwell has written to the Speaker of the House and that more will be said of the matter when it becomes public in two weeks.

ENDS

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