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For immediate release

14 August 2014

Religion Now Reason for Attack on Election Hoardings

Concerns are emerging that election hoardings implying religion are being targeted after three separate attacks in Auckland recently.

“I’m concerned that people may be misunderstanding my hoardings and reacting badly as a result” Maori Party Te Tai Tokerau candidate Rev Te Hira Paenga said today.

“We had a complaint made to the advertising standards body claiming that my hoardings are objectionable and that I was appearing in what they called a priest’s costume.”

“The complaint wasn’t upheld, basically because I don’t just dress up as a priest, I am actually a consecrated deacon in the Anglican Church and the assistant curate at the Auckland Anglican mission. I’m not dressing up – what you see is what you get. When I say a vote of faith; that is actually what I am talking about, my pledge to take my Christian values into Parliament.

“I realise that we have a separation of church and state, but does that mean people with a religious background are not allowed to stand for Parliament? That’s not separation, that’s segregation and who wants that?

“Anyway – to the person chopping down my Act of Faith hoardings– thank you for leaving my other ones alone and I really do appreciate that you have been just knocking these ones down and not defacing them. My mates who are out in the rain putting them up again might have some other ideas, but kei te pai, we’re used to that,” said Rev Paenga.

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