Metiria Turei Co Leader of Greens Should Resign From Parliament
Media Release July 22 2017

Image result for metiria turei scandalNew Zealanders expect high standards of integrity from those who seek our permission to govern us. Sadly the reputation of Metiria Turei is now tarnished. At a recent Green Party conference she announced that she had lied to WINZ when she was on a domestic purposes benefit. She has confessed to theft and fraud. It is estimated that she has fraudulently obtained $57,000 from WINZ . It is disturbing that it was reported that Metiria Turei’s announcement received rapturous applause from the party faithful.

She said that it was her duty to tell her story of 20 years ago. Right to Life asks why now? She has sat in Parliament since 2002 and said nothing. She is using her own story of benefit fraud to shamelessly promote the launching of the Green’s welfare policy. She has expressed no remorse, regret and at the time of the conference, no desire to repay the large sum of money she has fraudulently obtained. It is appalling that this fraud was perpetrated by her to allow her to attend University in order to obtain a law degree. She has the audacity to say that she took the money because she needed it and it is only now that she is prepared to pay the money back, if asked. .

Metiria Turei expects that if the election resulted in a Labour/Green government she will be made a Minister of the Crown. Right to Life believes that the community do not wish to have a person who is a self-confessed fraudster sitting at the head of government.

Why is there a chilling silence from the Green party? Is it that they do not consider benefit fraud a crime? If the Green Party are to act with integrity they should request that she resign from the leadership of the Green party and resign from Parliament.

Right to Life believes that there is a conspiracy of silence from the media. Why is the media failing the community it serves by declining to pursue this very important justice issue, which could influence the next general election in September.

Metiria Turei’s confession is also an embarrassment for the Labour party who are campaigning on a Labour/Green ticket under the slogan “Great together.” If Turei refuses to go, it could result in loss of votes for not only the Greens but also for Labour.

Metiria Turei has a sense of entitlement and believes that she is too important to be investigated and possibly prosecuted. Right to Life supports the call from Christine Rankin former head of WINZ for Metiria Turei to be immediately investigated. Right to Life believes that this inquiry must take place to uphold the rule of law and the integrity of Parliament.

We salute those heroic solo mother’s who have chosen life for their child and who respect the law and do not resort to benefit fraud. They deserve the full support of the community.

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

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