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Candidate calls for an end to institutional racism

Tāmaki Makaurau candidate calls for an end to institutional racism


29 AUGUST 2014


Tāmaki Makaurau candidate, Rangi McLean has spoken up in support of Irie Te Wehi-Takerei who was wrongfully accused of shoplifting at a Warehouse store in Manukau.

"Over the last month, two different supermarkets have been in the news for targeting Māori customers. Countdown's Dinsdale supermarket in Hamilton used the store's intercom system to track the movements of 'a Māori girl who needed to be watched'; while in the latest incident a mother of four was held in custody for two hours and served with a trespass order preventing her from all Warehouse Stores despite there being no evidence of wrongdoing".

"Both supermarkets have apologised and offered compensation to the individuals concerned, but its the principle at stake that we want to draw attention to.

"Whether it's at the checkout or in the delivery suite; the reception of a private business or the policy engine-room of a state agency, all New Zealanders should expect to be treated with respect.

"There are no circumstances when it is acceptable to oppress, deprive, ridicule or ignore someone or a group of people on the basis of their race" said Mr McLean.

The Māori Party has a private members bill ready for the new parliament, which introduces legislation to set a standard to eliminate institutional racism.

"Institutional racism is about the bias ofsystems and the effects this has on different groups of people; it's about measurable outcomes; it's about differential treatment".

"We want to see all employers showing evidence of moving towards the elimination of institutional racism -improving their ethnicity-based statistical performance; so that there are more equitable results; introducing policies and protocols to prevent racial profiling".

ENDS

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